Chris Jordan is the latest player to commit unequivocally to England’s tour of Bangladesh, in the belief “more than enough security” measures will be in place. Jordan has followed Moeen Ali in declaring himself unreservedly available to travel at the end of this month. Jonny Bairstow has also given a strong indication he is of the same mind.
England Test captain Alastair Cook is understood to have privately pledged his attendance too, following last month’s security briefing from security expert Reg Dickason which gave the tour the go-ahead. Cook’s limited-overs counterpart Eoin Morgan has yet to make up his mind whether to visit a country where a terror attack at the start of July resulted in the loss of 29 lives. Jordan, speaking on the eve of England’s season-ending NatWest Twenty20 against Pakistan at Old Trafford, spelled out his readiness to tour – but was at pains too to insist others’ individual decisions must be respected.
“If selected, I will definitely go,” he said.
“Our head of security Reg Dickason went over and brought back a thorough report – as he does for any trip.
“They obviously said they’ll provide more than enough security – they reckon they’ll overcook themselves on the amount provided.”
Asked if one or two others in either the Test or one-day international squads may still be wavering, Jordan said: “Possibly, and naturally so.
“It’s not the ideal situation, but we can’t change it or what’s gone on in the past.”
England have a chance in Manchester to finish their limited-overs season on another high. Despite their only white-ball defeat to date this summer in Cardiff on Sunday, they have so far beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 and 1-0, and Pakistan 4-1. Jos Buttler is expected to return to wicketkeeping duties on his home ground, having recovered from the hamstring niggle which ruled him out of the last two ODIs.
PA.
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