Cricket News

‘There were lots of racist comments’ -Chris Jordan opens up on dealing with racist abuse after England’s 20-20 World Cup exit

Former England pacer Chris Jordan has alleged that he was subjected to “relentless” racist abuse after England were knocked out of the 20-20  World Cup by New Zealand in November last year. One of the favorites for the title, England crashed out in the semifinal to New Zealand after their bowling did not fire towards the end with New Zealand needing 57 runs to win off just 24 balls.

They reached the target with six deliveries remaining as Daryl Mitchell played an unbelievable inning of 72 and Jimmy Neesham contributed a lovely cameo in the run chase.

Chris Jordan was smashed to all parts, courtesy of a brutal assault by Jimmy Neesham in the 17th over of the match, conceding 23 runs as it changed the complexion of the match. In what is a big piece of news, Jordan has now opened up about the racist attacks he faced after that defeat, mirror.co.uk has reported.

“Six months ago, in the World Cup semi-final, things didn’t go our way,” he said. “Social media, it was relentless for me, on Twitter and Instagram, there were lots of [racist] comments on my pictures and in my direct messages because we had lost a World Cup game. People felt that I had a big part to do with that,” he added.

In a video produced by Royal London and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Jordan spoke about how he was painted a villain and subjected to racist abuse in the aftermath of the match. Jordan was speaking to David ‘Syd’ Lawrence, the first British-born black cricketer to play for England, who is now the president of Gloucestershire.

“From my point of view, the England team currently is as diverse as it gets. I know that I’ve made some very good, lifelong friends in that changing room.  “That’s a credit to people like Eoin Morgan and Joe Root because our changing room is one of the most diverse [in world cricket]. Real change will come from within, through having real conversations, as some people are just unaware; it’s about continued education,” he was quoted as saying in the report.