Cook: Jordan can't keep bowling wides

Cricket365
August 28, 2014

Captain Alastair Cook backed seamer Chris Jordan for better, after a poor showing contributed to England's disappointing 133-run defeat to India in Wednesday's rain-affected second ODI at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

India's formidable total of 304 for six on the back of the left-handed Suresh Raina's century proved ample, as the hosts stuttered to an entirely insufficient 161 all out in reply.

Jordan, meanwhile, rued a weak performance. The right-armer conceded all of 73 runs from 10 expensive overs, labouring through a struggling run-up – and bowling a dozen wides – throughout.

"Chris has had a really good start to his international career, unfortunately it's not always going to be a smooth ride for any of these young players and he'll learn from it," said Cook.

"But he has got a great attitude to improving and he'll know that you can't keep bowling wides because it hurts the side. He'll know that more than anyone, he's an honest lad and when he gets it right he's a fantastic bowler."

Cook found consolation in the debut of opener Alex Hales and all-rounder Chris Woakes' fine figures. Hales struck a patient 40 off 63 deliveries, while Woakes completed a haul of four for 52, including the key dismissals of Raina and half-centurion Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"I thought Woakes bowled pretty well and obviously it's nice top see Alex get up and running," added Cook. "What we have to do is dust ourselves down, come back in the next game and play better.

"There's a lot of talent in that dressing room to play better so it's not all doom and gloom. But if you play like that you don't win many games. You've still got to turn and play and to be brutally honest we didn't do that in any of our departments."

The third ODI will get underway at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday. Edgbaston in Birmingham and Headingley in Leeds will host fixtures four and five on Tuesday and Friday next week respectively.