Jordan Cox luck could finally be turning after series-winning half-century

Sportsmen loathe to acknowledge luck: to admit to chance, after all, is to accept that the outcomes of matches and careers are not determined by talent and hard work alone. But Jordan Cox arrived in Ireland in danger of becoming an unlucky international cricketer.

Ten months ago, in New Zealand, Cox was primed to make his England Test debut. Then, he broke his right thumb while batting in the nets, handing Jacob Bethell an opportunity that he capitalised upon. In May, Cox was recalled to England’s Test squad for the clash with Zimbabwe, but then suffered an abdominal muscle injury and was ruled out. So when Cox jarred his knee when taking a catch at backward square leg in Malahide, and had to leave the field, he must have feared a third unwanted injury would curtail his England involvement.

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Happily, this time was different. Cox’s injury was a mere scare. Arriving at No 4, his pristine 55 underpinned England’s six-wicket victory at a sold-out Malahide, as they chased down Ireland’s 154 for eight to seal the series 2-0.

“There wasn’t a chance I wasn’t going to bat because I might have had to wait another two years,” Cox said, wryly.

For months he found the injury in New Zealand, which robbed him of a Test debut, hard to process. While the immediate upshot sounds idyllic – three months in Bondi, staying with his mother’s family – Cox realised his personal toil.

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“I really struggled after New Zealand. To have the opportunity to play for your country in Test cricket is something that I always dreamt of doing, and am still dreaming about doing. So to get that taken away was really hard.

“My friends and family, the people closest to me, said it would have happened for a reason. If that means I wasn’t quite ready to play Test cricket yet, that was someone telling me I wasn’t ready.

“There’s a reason why I didn’t play. There was a reason why Bethell did and why he did so well.”

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For all his talents, Cox had only mustered 39 runs in his five international innings to date, spread between the T20 matches with Australia and ODIs against West Indies last year. This sparkling half-century hinted at the qualities that many believe will lead Cox to a fruitful international career in all three formats. The ease with which he played the short ball, unfurling several crisp pulls off Ireland’s seamers, was a particular hallmark of his innings.

To anyone who has watched Cox enjoy an outstanding domestic season – he averages 59.1 in the County Championship and 61.2 in the Hundred – these shots will have been no surprise.

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One salient difference with last year, Cox believes, is that he has now brought a more phlegmatic approach to international cricket.

“My debut was against Australia and I had to face [Josh] Hazlewood, who was someone when watching the Ashes, I was like, ‘Oh, brilliant, this is going to be a nice debut’. Instead of actually thinking it’s only a ball coming down, don’t worry about it. Whoever’s bowling it, just have a bit of fun and show what you can do. That’s what I tried to do today.”

Cox’s tale might now double as inspiration for Sonny Baker. For the second time in three weeks, the Hampshire seamer endured a chastening international debut. After leaking 76 runs from seven overs against South Africa on his ODI debut, Baker’s four overs conceded 52 runs against Ireland.

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Baker has been selected by England largely on the basis of his raw pace. But both Ross Adair and Gareth Delany, at either ends of Ireland’s innings, settled into a rhythm against him as he persistently bowled full and did not show the wider repertoire that white-ball cricket demands.

An assiduous note-taker, Baker will leave his first forays in international cricket aware of his current limitations. Yet he will also know that, aged 22, this awkward start could be the prelude to a fine international career.

England win by six wickets!

Banton steers the winning run, meaning he finishes on 37 not out. Ireland bowled better today, with Matthew Humphreys very impressive and Barry McCarthy dangerous with the new ball. But that’s been another cruise, underpinned by a pristine 55 from Jordan Cox in his first international match for ten months.

Over 17 ENG 154/4 (Banton 36 Ahmed 9)

Ahmed crunches Delany through mid on to take England’s target into single figures. Banton then gives Delany the charge, clearing extra cover. Scores are level.

Wicket! Over 16 ENG 143/4 (Banton 31 Ahmed 4)

Cox backs away to White, but the ball turns to uproot his stumps. Still, Cox will be thrilled with his sparkling 55 in his first international game for ten months. Rehan Ahmed will now try and lead England’s sprint to victory.

Over 15 ENG 139/3 (Cox 55 Banton 30)

Ireland try their other leg spinner, Gareth Delany. Banton uses his feet to drill the third ball through long on for four; otheriwse, England are content enough to take their time.

Over 14 ENG 131/3 (Cox 54 Banton 23)

Cox had to leave the field during Ireland’s innings after jarring his knee taking a catch. But after brief fears that he would suffer yet another injury to curtail his England involvement, he has been in sumptuous touch all day. Pulling has been a real feature of Cox’s innings; aptly, he brings up his half-century with another pulled six as McCarthy drops short.

Over 13 ENG 121/3 (Cox 46 Banton 21)

White is a bit of a step down in class from Humphreys. He drifts too short, allowing Cox to crunch a pull through midwicket; the earlier boundary in the over, a thick edge from a Banton drive, was a little fortunate.

Over 12 ENG 111/3 (Cox 41 Banton 16)

Humphreys bowls out: another accurate, streetwise over. He hasn’t turned 23 yet, so will enjoy a long career for Ireland. He almost signs off with a wicket, but Cox’s edge just evades slip.

Over 11 ENG 109/3 (Cox 40 Banton 15)

Leg spinner White does return for a second over, after all. The result is better than White’s first over, though Tom Banton steering the last ball for four means that ten runs still come from the over. The crowd are enjoying the last stages of just the fifth completed men’s international match in Ireland this summer.

Wicket! Over 10 ENG 99/3 (Cox 40 Banton 5)

Campher generates some zip off the surface to induce Salt to edge behind. While it feels too late to change the trajectory of the match, Ireland’s bowling has been better so far today. Cox has looked in supreme touch so far, encapsulated by a punch for four through backward point.

Over 9 ENG 89/2 (Salt 29 Cox 36)

A few overs after his extraordinary catch, Campher misfields badly at long off, allowing Salt’s drive to run through his fingers and over the boundary. England now need only a-run-a-ball.

Buttler falls to Campher wonder-catch

Over 8 ENG 79/2 (Salt 22 Cox 34)

Leg spinner Ben White into the attack. He’s very unlucky first ball, which spins past both Jordan Cox and Lorcan Tucker and runs away for four byes. But a long hope allows Cox to rock back and pull a six. Another short ball is tucked around for four by Salt. Even worse, it’s a no ball, though the extra delivery only goes for one. But 19 off the over; don’t expect we will see White again today.

Over 7 ENG 60/2 (Salt 17 Cox 25)

Humphreys is back. It’s an excellent, very accurate and proving, over. He thinks he has Salt lbw, but the review reveals a big outside edge. Still, only three from the over.

Over 6 ENG 57/2 (Salt 16 Cox 23)

Campher is into the attack but Salt relishes the slight drop in pace – steering him through point for four, and then flicking a six over square leg. England are on course so far, despite Ireland’s improvements from Wednesday.

Wicket! Over 5 ENG 43/2 (Salt 15 Cox 10)

Another excellent catch: Delany times his dive from midwicket perfectly, and catches Bethell with both hands together. With another quick wicket or two Ireland will have a real chance – this wicket is far slower than on Wednesday, after all the rain in between. But Jordan Cox gets off the mark with a crisp pull for six second ball. Young isn’t quite quick enough to bounce players out. “Come on lads, one more in the Powerplay,” we can hear the Irish players saying.

Over 4 ENG 33/1 (Salt 15 Bethell 15)

After nine balls McCarthy had figures of 1-3. But Bethell marmalises the fourth ball of his over through midwicket; next delivery, he gives McCarthy the charge and flays him through the off side. Terrific batting.

Over 3 ENG 23/1 (Salt 14 Bethell 6)

Jacob Bethell’s shot to get off the mark, against Craig Young, is a microcosm of why England have long considered him a rare talent: rocking back, rolling his wrists and pulling a four – the power all coming from timing, rather than brute force. But he is almost run-out from the fifth ball of the over: scampering a single after a miscue landed just in front of point, he would have been out had Lorcan Tucker’s throw landed on the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Ireland’s fielding has been full of zest so far.

Wicket! And what a catch Over 2 ENG 13/1 (Salt 11 Bethell 0)

An absolutely brilliant catch from Curtis Campher. From short extra cover, he dives with his right hand fully outstretched, intercepting Jos Buttler’s drive just before it hits the ground. The TV umpire confirms that the catch is clean. So Ireland have the early wicket they lacked on Wednesday, and have the chance to exert some control. It’s an excellent first over from Barry McCarthy – even if, curiously, the wicket came off perhaps his worst delivery, a low full toss.

Over 1 ENG 10/0 (Salt 10 Buttler 0)

Matthew Humphreys opening the bowling: he’s an impressive left-arm spinner, generating spin off the surface at good pace. Humphreys trained with Birmingham Phoenix earlier this summer and Daniel Vettori was impressed. His first over is mostly tight but is ruined by an overpitched fourth delivery, which Phil Salt launches for six.

Sunny again

Four seasons in an afternoon here. Anyway, England’s innings will begin at 4.10pm, with the full 20 overs. Conditions look glorious again now, even if it is still very chilly here in the press tent.

Another shower

Just as were looking good to get back out there. We had been due to resume at 350pm, with no overs lost.

The showers are over

The last cover is being removed from the square and the sun is coming out. Should be back on pretty swiftly, without any overs lost.

Good news for Jordan Cox

Happily, Jordan Cox, who has suffered so much bad luck with injuries in his England career so far, will be fit to bat. He is down to bat at number four. The reason for Sam Curran’s absence today has been confirmed: he has best man duties.

It’s still raining

More covers are being brought out. It’s now getting heavier, although the rain radar suggests this will pass within a few minutes, so we should still get a full game. Much too soon for any fans to head to Gibney’s just yet.

And it’s raining

Suddenly it’s raining quite hard and the covers are on unfortunately. But there is plenty of blue sky around so hopefully only a passing shower.

End of innings! OVER 20: IRE 154/8 (Delany 48 Young 0)

Baker returns to close out the innings. Delany crunches his second ball down the ground, and then clears mid off from the penultimate delivery. An uncharacteristically wild throw from Bethell then allows Ireland to scamper two from the final ball. So Ireland end up with 154-8, largely thanks to Delany’s perky cameo: he struck the ball very cleanly, and faced all the 12 last deliveries himself.

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Baker was very upbeat when he spoke to the press yesterday. But he ends with 0-52 from his four overs: another chastening debut, after his 0-76 from seven overs against South Africa on ODI debut.

OVER 19 IRE 144/8 (Delany 38 Young 0)

Delany is trying to hit every ball for boundary, but can’t quite find his timing. Overton concedes just three, though at least Delany is on strike for the last over.

Wicket! OVER 18: IRE 141/8 (Delany 35 Young 0)

Rashid is back, again entrusted to bowl the 18th over – that’s the second game in a row, so seems like part of England’s thinking. As so often, Rashid’s returns gives England control back. Humphreys resorts to the reverse sweep from the fifth ball of the over, and earns four. He’s out from the next ball, caught at fine leg – but Delany remains on strike. Jordan Cox takes the catch, but in the process seems to have hurt his knee, which landed awkwardly on the turf. He’s now walking off the field. Hope his terrible run with injuries when in the England reckoning does not continue. Remember: Cox’s fractured thumb, sustained in the nets, in New Zealand last year robbed him of a Test debut.

OVER 17: IRE 132/7 (Delany 31 Humphreys 2)

Finally a little counter-punching from Ireland. Delany carves the returning Baker through the off side, backing away to create room, and then pulls consecutive sixes, which both clear the ropes comfortably. He turns down a single from the fifth ball, indicating that he backs himself to score another boundary from the last ball. But he only manages one, down the ground. Baker has now conceded 42 from three overs: another torrid debut

OVER 16: IRE 114/7 (Delany 15 Humphreys 0)

Delany is a dangerous ball-striker – he did well for Leicestershire in the 2020 T20 Blast as an overseas player, largely opening – with an unusually high backlift. He picks up the fourth ball of Wood’s over and launches it over deep midwicket for six. Then, with more finesse, he diverts the last delivery wide of third man for four.

Wicket! And again! OVER 15: IRE 102/7 (Delany 1 Humphreys 0)

An emphatic slog sweep for six from Calitz off Rashid brings up Ireland’s century, albeit about four overs later than the side would have hoped. He’s a powerful player; aged 23, he could well have a substantial international future. But, attempting another slog sweep, his tame top edge loops up to Bethell at extra cover. So Calitz’s debut innings ends on 22. This Ireland innings is a mess. The number eight, Barry McCarthy, is an effective hitter of pace but can really be exposed against spin. And just as I type that he is struck on the pad first ball by a Rashid googly. The review was much more in hope than expectation.

Wicket! OVER 14: IRE 93/5 (Calitz 15 Delany 1)

Dawson returns. Trying to accelerate, Tector tries a reverse-sweep, but his top edge picks out fine leg and is out for 28. That’s a big blow for Ireland’s prospects of getting to 160 or so. After Adair’s cameo, this innings has lacked any sense of vitality.

OVER 13: IRE 89/4 (Tector 28 Calitz 13)

Chaos from the fourth ball of the over: Calitz is struck above the pad while attempting a pull. The ball almost lands on his stumps, but Tector races through for a single. Had Overton’s throw hit the stumops, Calitz would have been run-out. Only five from the over; Ireland need at least ten an over from the last seven overs.

OVER 12: IRE 84/4 (Tector 26 Calitz 11)

Tector forces Ahmed’s first delivery through wide mid off for four; Ireland need a lot more of that though. And Tector does manage an encore in the over, slog-sweeping six over midwicket, only just evading the media tent. We are exposed; it’s chilly, despite the sunshine. Calitz miscues the final ball of the over, but the ball lands safely around mid on.

OVER 11: IRE 70/4 (Tector 14 Calitz 9)

As a left-hander, Calitz – in theory – should be the man to attack Adil Rashid. Good luck on debut. He clearly has a penchant for the sweep; after missing one attempt, he is hit on the helmet and has to undergo a concussion test. But Calitz rocks back to his next delivery and thumps a much-needed boundary through midwicket.

OVER 10: IRE 62/4 (Tector 13 Calitz 2)

Because of the overnight rain, some deliveries that would normally go over the ropes here in Malahide are plugging in the outfield. Ahmed returns with another impressive over, only conceding four. Debutant Ben Calitz, a much-needed left-hander for Ireland, sweeps his first run in international cricket.

OVER 9: IRE 58/4 (Tector 11 Calitz 0)

After taking 1-6 in his first over, Ahmed is whisked out of the attack. Overton is back and claims a wicket third ball, with Tucker picking out Wood at square leg, who juggles then completes what should have been a routine catch at the second attempt. Ireland are really struggling now. And it gets even worse: Campher gives Overton the charge and picks out Banton.

OVER 8: IRE 55/2 (Tector 10 Tucker 1)

Leg spin from both ends, with Rashid bowling alongside his long-term replacement. Wrist spin of this calibre is simply something that Ireland’s batsmen do not encounter in domestic cricket. A brilliant delivery second ball – above Tector’s eyeline, then turning and dipping – almost has the batsman clean bowled.

OVER 7: IRE 52/2 (Tector 8 Tucker 0)

Rehan Ahmed, who only bowled one over on Wednesday – it was respectable enough, and only went for nine – is into the attack. Tector greets him by thumping a straight drive for four. But Ahmed deceives Adair with his third ball, whichpicks out Cox at deep midwicket. Ireland need a big Tector-Tucker stand again.

OVER 6: IRE 46/1 (Adair 33 Tector 3)

Overton is on; his first ball is too short, and Adair smashes it over backward square leg. But Overton recovers pretty well, despite one wide. Ireland end up with 46-1 in the Powerplay, three fewer than on Wednesday. Time for spin now.

OVER 5: IRE 39/1 (Adair 28 Tector 2)

Wood back on to replace Baker, who has figures of 0-24 from his two overs in T20 international cricket so far. He varies his pace and length intelligently, restricting Ireland to just three from the over. Only over of the Powerplay left; Ireland will need to make it count.

OVER 4: IRE 36/1 (Adair 26 Tector 1)

Dawson is into the attack in the fourth over, just as he was in the opening game. His second ball skids on off the pitch; Stirling attempts to cut the ball through the off side but gets a thick edge to Buttler. After Stirling is initially given not-out, England need the help of DRS to identify the clear spike. The wicket does not change Adair’s intentions; he clears extra cover for another boundary.

OVER 3: IRE 30/0 (Stirling 7 Adair 21)

What a shot from Adair! Stays deep in his crease, and launches Baker over long off. He is compulsive viewing, despite his clear limitations. From Baker’s fourth ball, Adair then backs away and unfurls a terrific drive through mid off for another boundary. And he backs away again from the last ball, giving himself room and clearing extra cover. Great start for Ireland.  

OVER 2: IRE 14/0 (Stirling 7 Adair 5)

Luke Wood’s first ball is a little wide, and Stirling smashes it though the covers. Adair is a real all-or-nothing player, and is struggling for his timing. 

OVER 1: IRE 8/0 (Stirling 3 Adair 4)

A better start for Sonny Baker initially then on his torrid ODI debut, although his third ball is sprayed down the on side. Adair slams the last ball through the covers for four.

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Sam Curran, incidentally, has returned home for personal reasons.

Gearing up to start

The sense was that Ireland’s best chance of an upset was to chase. After the overnight rain, any assistance for the bowlers will be early on.

But with the sun out – it’s now a gorgeous day – conditions still look very good for batting. A sell-out crowd – 4,500 – will hope to see Ireland approach, or even top, the 196-3 they hit on Wednesday, even if that total never threatened to be enough.  

Toss and team news

Good news from Malahide. After more or less relentless rain in the past two days, rain stopped overnight. While the temperature is not warm – about 13 degrees – the sun is out, giving the ground a chance to dry out. A full game is in store.

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England have won the toss and will have a bowl: an obvious option to exploit any moisture in the wicket, and with Malahide an excellent ground for chasing. Sonny Baker makes his T20 debut while Jordan Cox returns, with Sam Curran and Will Jacks dropping out. Ireland give a debut to left-hander Ben Calitz, who previously represented Canada U-19s.