By Callum Dent
Chris Jordan’s pace and bounce will be a huge asset for England in Sri Lanka, according to Sussex team-mate Ed Joyce.
The 26-year-old is part of a 15-man squad that arrived today in Sri Lanka for seven one-day internationals.
Jordan has made great strides on the world stage over the last 12 months, making his England debut in all formats during that time.
The fast bowler has already adapted to conditions in Australia, West Indies and Bangladesh in England colours and Joyce believes his county colleague has the attributes to succeed in Sri Lanka.
In an exclusive interview with ecb.co.uk, Irishman Joyce said:“All conditions should suit him really because he has got pace and bounce.
“On the flatter wickets that are a bit lower in the sub-continent and Sri Lanka, in particular, his extra pace should be beneficial with a reverse-swinging ball.
We've arrived! Here is the team being greeted at their hotel in Colombo at 6am local time #SLvEnghttps://t.co/mBwlJEeJAT
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) November 17, 2014
“Medium-pacers who don’t do too much with it seem to go the distance over there. Anyone who has got pace is valuable but he has batting and fielding to add to that.
“He is one of those cricketers that could be x-factor in the next few years.”
Released by Surrey at the end of the 2012 term, Jordan started a new chapter in his career at Sussex.
The Barbados-born all-rounder hit the ground running during his maiden season at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground, taking 78 wickets in all formats, including eight on his debut in the opening-week LV= County Championship Division One crushing of Yorkshire at Headingley.
Since then he has gone from strength to strength and Joyce is backing the well-liked and level-headed Jordan to continue creating an impression on the international scene.
“One of his strengths is that he is a very level bloke,” he said.
“He came down to us and within a year he was playing for England. I think it speaks volumes about him and also the club and environment.
“He hasn’t changed at all; he is a really down-to-earth bloke, an absolute beauty of a chap and whenever he is around everyone gets on with him brilliantly.
“It’s always good to see him. Even when he is not playing he comes down to watch us. He has really fitted in well and his bowling has come on leaps and bounds since that first game he had against Yorkshire a couple of years ago.
“There is a lot more to come from him in an England shirt.”
Not only does he bowl quick, Jordan is also a capable lower-order batsman and immaculate fielder.
He has already showed glimpses of his power and strength with willow in hand courtesy of cameos at Barbados and the Kia Oval.
Returning to the ground where he played growing up, Jordan lit up the crowd by smashing four sixes in the final over of a Twenty20 international against West Indies last March.
That by no means was a flash in the pan as two months later Jordan slayed the Sri Lanka attack to all parts in compiling 38 off just 13 balls, including five fours and a brace of maximums, in a one-day international.
Former England batsman Joyce added: “He has got all three things. He is a brilliant fielder and one of the best catchers I have ever seen.
“He has shown in an England shirt more towards the death overs than he has for Sussex, smashing it at the end of that West Indies game in Barbados and a few other games as well.
“He is a very powerful bloke and I think his batting is a work in progress. It is exciting that he can bat, seven, eight or nine and do a job at the end.”
Click here to relive Jordan's man-of-the-match display versus Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval.