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"When they don't need me, I will...": Jordan Cox to snip England Lions tour for ILT20 stint

Soumyajit Dutta

Jordan Cox [Source: @EssexCricket/X.com]Jordan Cox [Source: @EssexCricket/X.com]

Jordan Cox, who had a stellar summer for England this year, will cut short his England Lions tour to Australia to play for the Dubai Capitals in the ILT20. Cox missed out on selection for England's 16-man Ashes squad after Ollie Pope backed up Jamie Smith. 

Meanwhile, Jordan Cox will play for the Lions in England's only warm-up fixture and is set to arrive in Dubai on December 2 before the ILT20 begins.

Jordan Cox opens up on England Lions tour

Speaking at last week's Toyota PCA Awards, where he was named PCA Men's Player of the Year, Jordan Cox said he would be with the Lions to help the boys prepare for the Test matches and will depart soon after the warm-up fixture.

"We have got an agreement. I won't be at the Lions as long as people think. I will be there for the first game, maybe the second. It's mainly to help the England boys get ready for the Test matches, which is the most important thing. When they don't need me, they will flick me off to Dubai," Cox said.

Discussing his opportunity to display his red-ball skills in front of Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Rob Key, Cox expressed his excitement about contributing to the warm-up match even though he isn’t part of the Ashes squad.

"It will be nice to show Stokes, Baz and Keysy [Rob Key]. They haven't watched me live much in red-ball [cricket]. They have come to Hundred or T20 games, but I don't imagine they are coming to much four-day cricket. Maybe they will see something different that they like - or not - and I'd like to show them [what I can do] in the flesh. That would be really good," Cox added.

Cox wishes England call-up

The Dubai Capitals signed Cox as a replacement player before the recent ILT20 auction, offering him a contract worth around US$250,000. Cox also shared his thoughts on this new opportunity in franchise cricket while desiring for an opportunity for an England call-up.

"There is some England stuff I'd love to be a part of, but if not, there's a few franchise competitions and I'll have some fun. My aim is to play Test cricket, but I wouldn't wish an injury on anyone. If I get a chance, it would be awesome," Cox concluded.

Although his exact itinerary and travel plans are yet to be finalised, he is expected to leave the Lions tour before their Australia A game in Brisbane on December 5.