The man responsible for bringing Jofra Archer into English cricket believes the hottest young property in the world game can live up to the hype and go on to have an outstanding international career.
Chris Jordan trod an identical path to the one facing his fellow Barbadian in qualifying for England and believes his protégé will be well worth the wait until he becomes eligible for his father’s country in 2022.
Archer, 22, has made a huge impression since Jordan recommended him to Sussex and has just been recruited by Rajasthan Royals of the Indian Premier league for £800,000 after a breakthrough Big Bash campaign with Hobart.
Jofra Archer can become a superstar and flourish for England, says Chris Jordan
Jordan recommended Archer as a teenager and his tip has proven to be a valuable one
And Jordan believes it is just the start for a cricketer who can bowl at excess on 90 miles per hour, hit the ball long and hard and field with rare athleticism.
‘I go back to see my family most years and I also played as an overseas for Barbados in the first-class tournament,’ said Jordan ahead of today’s second Twenty20 tri-series international against Australia.
‘So I did a lot of training with him from the age of 16 and saw the potential. I had a chat with Sussex about getting him over and they saw it as a great idea. The rest is history.’
Archer could play international cricket for his native West Indies now but has elected, just like Jordan did, to wait until he can represent England, a decision his mentor believes he is perfectly entitled to make.
Archer is a quick bowler but can also bat and will be eligible for England in 2022
‘What a lot of people don’t know is that he’s never had a Barbados passport, he’s only ever had a British one,’ said Jordan as England trained for their final match in Australia this winter. ‘He has as much right as anyone else to play for England.
The worry, with so many Twenty20 leagues potentially competing for his services, is that Archer might not hang around for international cricket. He could make millions from Twenty20 without committing himself to the 210 days each year he must spend in England to qualify on residential grounds.
Jordan is not concerned. ‘He has that desire to play for England. He says it himself. You can ask him. He can only stay in the present and at the moment, in terms of high-level cricket, franchises can provide opportunities for him.
‘But by the time he is able to play international cricket he’ll be hardened and know his game even better. He can come on the England scene and flourish straightaway.
Jordan believes as long as Archer can handle an increase in attention he will deliver in spades
‘He was made for the big stage. I’m not surprised at how well he has done with his talent and competitive nature and we have only really seen it with the ball so far. The kid can bat as well.’
The only blot on Archer’s landscape so far came with his disappointing display in the Big Bash final in Hobart’s defeat by Adelaide when he failed to rise to the big occasion. There were even unfounded suggestions he was injured.
‘I just think people need to remember that he’s 22,’ said Jordan. He’s still learning his game and he can make mistakes. He’s gone to the IPL for a big price tag and he’s exceeded people’s expectations over the last few weeks but he’s allowed to have a couple of off days as we all are as cricketers.
‘I still think he’s in good order. I just don’t want too much expectation on him but that will come the better he does. How he deals with that will determine his future. At present he’s doing a brilliant job in handling it.’
The 22-year-old played for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League this season