Jordan: England will not be cowed by collapse against Australia

Chris Jordan has vowed England’s “phenomenal” batting line-up will not be rattled by their costly collapse in Hobart.

The tourists fell well short of expectations in their opening match of the Twenty20 tri-series, frittering away a solid foundation to leave Australia chasing a modest 156.

At one point, England’s middle-order coughed up five wickets for 15 runs, a setback from which they never recovered.

On paper, Eoin Morgan’s team look to be insulated against such travails, with power throughout the top six and a dangerous lower order comprising the likes of David Willey, Jordan, Adil Rashid and Tom Curran.

And Jordan insists there will be no self-doubt when the sides meet again in Melbourne on Saturday.

“Plain and simple, we didn’t get enough runs, it just boils down to that. But our batting line-up is phenomenal,” he said.

“These things do happen but I think over a period of time we’ll have more success than failure. In T20 cricket, you’re always looking to take the positive option and we always trust whoever is out there to do that and play their natural game.

“Even with a batting collapse, we still put on 156, put a competitive total on the board. Imagine when we are going and don’t get a collapse, maybe we’ll end up with 200 or 210.”

Jordan offered a hint of England’s tail-end strength, taking 16 from 11 balls after coming in at number eight and hitting the ball of the innings into the stands.

He had called for a new bat moments earlier but anyone hoping the 29-year-old had unveiled a new big-hitting blade specifically for the job will be disappointed by the more prosaic reason.

“The previous one, the handle broke on it. I think it went when I hit one over cover then I slipped and landed on it,” he said.

“It was a good thing I swapped it though, because the last ball went for six.”

Australia’s victory at the Bellerive Oval came with a tinge of controversy, with match-winner Glenn Maxwell given not out by third umpire Chris Brown after a contested catch in the deep by Jason Roy.

From 59 at the time, he went on to lead his side home with 103 not out.

England remain convinced Roy held on cleanly but have not sought to make an issue out of the verdict.

Jordan, though, would prefer for the fielder’s testimony to carry more weight than the confusing balance between ‘soft signals’ and inconclusive images.

“I think a player’s word should be taken. No-one goes out there to cheat,” he said.

“I get confused with it to be honest. If the soft decision is out, I’m not sure how a decision gets overturned. But whatever decision umpires make, we have just got to get on with it and try to win the game.”

England could recall second spinner Liam Dawson to make use of the big boundaries at the MCG, with Curran possibly vulnerable.