Jordan Cox is currently lighting up the Hundred, but his journey to England’s national team has been anything but smooth. The 24-year-old Essex wicketkeeper-batter has shown class with the bat since moving from Kent two years ago, he’s averaged over 60 in the County Championship and boasts impressive white-ball credentials. After smashing an unbeaten 86 off just 29 balls at the Oval recently, Cox called it “the best place in the world to play cricket.”
However, luck hasn’t always been on Cox’s side when it comes to England call-ups. Last November, he was set for a Test debut in New Zealand, stepping in when Jamie Smith took paternity leave. But just days before the first Test, he broke his thumb during net practice a heartbreaking blow that could have ended his chances. Jacob Bethell replaced him, quickly becoming one of English cricket’s rising stars. Cox faced the tough task of bouncing back, healing, and proving himself again.
“That injury was a major setback,” Cox admits. “But I keep telling myself it happened for a reason. Maybe I wasn’t ready for Test cricket yet. If I get another shot, I’ll be ready.”
Unfortunately, more misfortune followed. In May, Cox was named in the Test squad for Zimbabwe but had to withdraw after picking up an abdominal injury while scoring a hundred for Essex. “I wasn’t upset this time,” he says. “Unless someone got hurt, I wasn’t going to play anyway. But I did feel down about not being around the team and showing them I’ve got their backs in the nets. Eventually, it became about getting fit and scoring runs again to put my name back in the frame.”
Motivated and determined to “bash the door down” with his performances, Cox has been thriving. His former Kent coach Matt Walker, now with the Oval Invincibles where Cox leads the run tally this Hundred season, praises his player’s confidence. “There’s an unwavering belief in himself he thinks he’s the best player every time he goes out. But it’s genuine confidence, not arrogance.”
Walker also highlights Cox’s smart cricket brain, pointing to his recent 86 against Welsh Fire in which he dispatched 10 sixes. Watching closely, Cox cleverly shuffled his stance and anticipated deliveries from his Essex teammate Paul Walter, exploiting weaknesses and hitting with flair.
“When I know how someone bowls under pressure, I’m a step ahead,” Cox explains. “We study the odds like how often Paulie hits the stumps. I knew it was very rare, so I took the risk to move around and attack.”
Despite only five England appearances two T20s against Australia and three ODIs in the West Indies with a top score of 17 Cox admits he wasn’t fully ready for those early chances. “I hardly played before those ODIs. I missed my opportunity.”
Walker, who was part of the coaching staff on that Caribbean tour, agrees Cox has worked hard to improve, especially against short balls and expanding his leg-side shots. “He’s putting pressure on that England squad and is definitely growing.”
Still, Cox remains outside the current white-ball setup, missing out on squads for upcoming matches against South Africa and Ireland. Breaking into a strong Test middle order that includes Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Stokes is a big ask.
“If Joe Root and Harry Brook are the No. 1 and 2 batsmen, I’m not going to slide in between them,” Cox says with a grin. “But if they said, ‘Jordan, you’re opening the Ashes series,’ I’d say, ‘Bring it on.’ I’m happy to bat anywhere for England 10, opener, middle order I’ll go wherever they want me.”
With resilience, talent, and the right mindset, Jordan Cox is ready to make England sit up and take notice.
