As a young boy, Jordan looked up to cricket legends from the West Indies. But now, he was making his mark at a famous old ground. With his family watching from the stands, he delivered a perfect ball that sent off stump cartwheeling, caught Kenjige lbw, and knocked over Netravalkar who backed away towards the stands where Jordan used to sit. The intensity of his performance was evident, and doing it in front of his family meant everything to him.
Jordan shared with us how important it was for him to perform well in front of his family. “My family doesn’t get to travel the world and watch me play international cricket often,” he said. “So, to perform in front of them is definitely one of the best moments of my career.” His nephew had even called him that morning, telling him to take three wickets if he played. Being a role model for his nephew was important to Jordan, as he hoped to inspire him to achieve great things in the future.
Playing in this World Cup felt like a homecoming for Jordan and his teammate Jofra Archer, both of whom were born in Barbados but now represent England. Despite expectations of resentment from locals for leaving West Indies to play for England, they were actually cheered on at every turn. At their first match in the tournament, there were even groups of schoolchildren from their former schools in the stands. The support they received, including an invitation to the prime minister’s box, made them feel appreciated and welcome.
