Thank you, Chris Jordan and thank you, Phil Salt

After the acclaimed success of the inaugural Hundred competition, which saw eventual winners Southern Brave feature Sussex players, George Garton, Chris Jordan and Tymal Mills… Last month also saw the announcement that Sussex players Phil Salt and the aforementioned Jordan are to leave the Sharks at the end of the season and join Lancashire and Surrey respectively. I for one will miss seeing them represent the County, so this month I decided to recognise their undeniable achievements and wish them both good luck for the future.

Salt – or Salty – now 25, came to Sussex when he was 17. Born in Wales but raised in Barbados, he is recognised as a top order batter with an aggressive and powerful style that saw him play a significant part in a Sharks team that reached the T20 Blast finals day in 2018, where he finished the season with the leading strike rate of 172.33. Having made his first team debut in 2015, and his T20 debut the following year, he played 170 matches with 4 hundreds and 32 half centuries to his name in all formats. Amongst other teams abroad, Salt also played for the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, making 361 runs at a strike rate of 164.09! His explosive style of play was a joy to watch, and this saw him finally receive international recognition when he made his ODI debut against Pakistan in July this year.

Jordan, or CJ returns to the Club where he made his debut in 2007 and will be the captain of Surrey’s T20 side. Regarded as a limited overs specialist and one of the finest fielders and death bowlers in the world today, Barbados born Jordan has had a sparkling career across the globe to date representing teams across the Caribbean, Indian Premier League, Pakistan and the Big Bash in Australia. 

The 32-year-old moved to Sussex in 2013 after he was released by Surrey and built a reputation as a paceman who bowled accurately and quickly. His Sussex debut saw him take 6 wickets for 48 runs against Yorkshire, and it wasn’t long before England took notice of his undoubted talents. To date he has featured in 8 Test matches, 34 ODIs and 30 T20 internationals. 

Eligible for England through his grandmother, he made his ODI debut at the Ageas Bowl against Australia, and on 1 December 2020, in the third match against South Africa, Jordan became the leading wicket-taker for England in T20I cricket, taking his 66th dismissal.

Additionally, Jordan has proved a useful lower-order batsman, hitting his maiden first-class century for Sussex against Essex at Colchester in 2016. 

According to the ECB website, he is old school friends with pop-star Rhianna. If only I’d known that before, I would have asked for an introduction… After getting his autograph first, of course!

Both players will be sorely missed no doubt, but fingers crossed they go out on a high with Sussex having qualified for finals day in the T20 Blast later this month.