Yet, while his fielding significantly strengthens Jordan’s appeal, he is not just a specialist fielder. While each squad in Euro 2026 comprises 26 players to fit into 11 spots, squads at the T20 World Cup are only 15. Should England reach the final, they will play nine matches. History shows that it is outlandish to think that England’s other three main fast bowling options – Jofra Archer, Reece Topley and Mark Wood – will be able to play all those games.

However, the notion that Jordan is dependent upon other bowlers being injured or rested to make England’s final 11 might well be misplaced. Jordan has a very strong chance of making England’s first-choice team, which owes largely to his least-discussed skill: his batting.

Picking Archer, Topley and Wood, together with leg-spinner Adil Rashid, would leave England with an overly long tail. England have identified the need to bat deep in the Caribbean. Doing so does not just mean that they have the capacity to recover from losing early wickets; equally importantly, the knowledge of the batting strength to come liberates the top-order to play more aggressively. Such thinking explains why Jamie Overton, who has become the most destructive finisher in the country, was in strong contention to be picked until suffering a suspected stress fracture.

While his batting is not quite as explosive, Jordan offers similar qualities. For Southern Brave in a Hundred game last year, Jordan hit an unbeaten 70 off 32 balls with seven sixes to lift his side from 76-8 to a match-winning 147. In December, he hit a 17-ball 50 for Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash.

Such innings encapsulate how, aged 35, Jordan’s batting has developed, especially against pace at the end of an innings. Since the start of 2023, Jordan averages 26.5, with a strike rate of 152, in all T20 cricket. He has also developed his ability to clear the ropes: Jordan has hit 42 of his 366 deliveries in this time, more than one in every nine, for six. It is an approach that is a good fit for the Caribbean: on small grounds and often slow pitches, it is not uncommon for matches to feature more sixes than fours.

“His batting seems to have kicked on,” England managing director Rob Key said of Jordan. “Power as well is the big thing out in the Caribbean.” 

Only by picking Jordan in their XI can England field three front-line quick bowlers and a belligerent hitter at No 8.