– assures pandemic has no effect on his training

By Frederick Halley

INSPIRING words from former West Indies fast bowler and renowned commentator Ian Bishop have had a profound effect on former Guyana fast bowler Jeremy Gordon, who at 33, has no intention of “throwing in the towel” any time soon.

During last year’s International Cricket Council (ICC) T20 World Cup Qualifiers, played in Dubai, Gordon, who now represents Canada, was credited with bowling the fastest delivery of the tournament, clocking 147 kilometres.

Gordon, who bowled consistently in the 140s, earned accolades from Bishop who was astonished that the-then 32-year-old was able to “manufacture” that amount of pace.

The lanky Gordon is, however, still peeved that Canada didn’t qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which was scheduled to be staged in Australia this year but has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He pointed out that Canada started well by winning their first three games, including a decisive victory over Ireland but lost momentum in their remaining three matches.

Gordon is still hopeful that Canada will qualify for the T20 World Cup which follows and which is scheduled for 2021. Towards this end, he’s looking forward to the Qualifiers which are scheduled to be held prior to the staging of that tournament. Boasting that he’s “fit as a fiddle,” Gordon told Chronicle Sport that the coronavirus pandemic has had no effect on his preparation for possible club cricket or once he’s chosen to represent his adopted country.

He explained that he has been doing his usual workouts and even trains during his lunch breaks since he’s working from home. “I have been a vegan since 2013 and this definitely helps me in being energised,” he pointed out.

Prior to the 2019 ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Gordon participated in the 2015 qualifiers in Scotland where Canada also failed to advance.

A self-imposed break between 2016 and 2018, which Gordon said was done mainly for family reasons, including marriage, saw a refreshed fast bowler donning colours for the Chris Gayle-led Vancouver Knights, the eventual winners of the inaugural Global T20 Canada tournament in 2018. He was however limited to one game.

Last year saw Gordon turn out for Toronto Nationals who managed to make the playoffs. His seven wickets earned him a spot among the top seven bowlers in the tournament.

In the meantime, he has been creating havoc in the Toronto & District Cricket Association (T&DCA) Super 9, representing Vikings (a predominantly Guyanese side), grabbing 30 wickets for his title-winning team – the most by any bowler in the 2019 tournament.

In 2014, Gordon still harboured dreams of representing Guyana but was peeved at the way he was treated by Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) selectors during a visit to his native land in December 2013.

Back then, Gordon, who also represented Guyana at the Under-19 level in 2005-2006, described his interaction with chairman of the GCB selectors, “as a royal round around.”

Then 27 years old, Gordon, who migrated to Canada in 2006,, pointed out that he still had a burning desire to play for Guyana but felt that this hope faded rapidly after the GCB selectors ignored his wishes.
According to Gordon, despite playing in Canada, he returned periodically to play first division cricket in Guyana and had intimated his desire to represent the country of his birth, also in 2012, He claimed that he also spoke to officials of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) about his intentions.
Gordon said he was told that he “needed to play cricket in Guyana before he could be considered for national selection”. Acknowledging that he had no problem with the directive, Gordon said, “I explained to them that I am a regular member of the Canadian national team and I work full time and it will be tough but I will make every effort.”

Gordon, who made his Guyana first class debut at Albion Community Centre ground against the Leeward Islands in January 2007 and has played two other matches for his homeland, said that in 2013 he was advised by the chairman of selectors to return for the Inter-county tournament and he would be included in the Rest (President’s XI) side.
There was further frustration for an expectant Gordon when he arrived in Guyana, as, according to him, the chairman of selectors informed him that he hasn’t seen him bowl and so couldn’t include him in the squad.

Boasting that he had a “pretty good summer”, Gordon said he was still hopeful “that things could have changed as, getting another opportunity to expose his cricketing ability at the highest level was something for which he had worked over the last few years.

“It was a great privilege to represent Guyana and I still have ambition of rekindling my games for them.”
Gordon is of the opinion that cricket in the North American country is very competitive, since there is a large number of expatriate players from cricket-playing nations featuring on an annual basis.
The New Amsterdam-born cricketer feels the game keeps improving at a rapid pace since there are players from different parts of the world plying their trade and also improving their skills, “and that has given us the encouragement to work harder on our cricket all-round.”

Gordon made his ODI debut for Canada against Scotland in July 2012 and played his first T20 game versus Ireland in Abu Dhabi in November 2013.
His maiden first class game was against Netherlands at the Maple Leaf ground in Toronto in August, 2013.

Gordon has captured 23 wickets in five first-class matches at an average of 21.08 with six for 43 being his best. He has also taken six scalps in five ODIs, his best being three for 26.