Jordan Cox believes the time he spent with Virat Kohli at the Indian Premier League has helped prime him for Test cricket as he prepares to bed in as England’s new No 3 this week.
Cox missed the early part of the season at Essex to warm the bench at Royal Challengers Bengaluru although he was able to get the counsel of team-mate and India superstar Kohli.
It was been a challenging past couple of years for Cox, who was on the verge of a Test debut in 2024 only for injury to strike, allowing Jacob Bethell to steal in and leapfrog him in the pecking order.
Cox belatedly made his Test bow in June against New Zealand at number seven but Bethell’s injury to his right knee has opened up a spot in the top-order against Pakistan at Headingley, starting on Wednesday.
“I could get a pair, but that’s not the end of the world,” Cox told the BBC. “I had that Test cap right there (in 2024), then I couldn’t get it. It felt like that was the end, as bad as that sounds.
“I remember talking to Virat about it. He said, ‘there are billions of people who don’t even know who I am. The sun will come in the morning’.
“He’s crazy on the field. When he comes off the field, he’s one of the nicest guys you’ll meet. It’s about how I can be like that. How can I be really aggressive on the field, then when I come off everyone say, ‘he’s a great bloke’.
“I’ll keep (his advice in mind) forever, I think. He’s someone that I’ll text if I’m ever feeling down or need a bit of help. He’s always at the end of the phone.”
Cox has been assured he will play at least the first two Tests against Pakistan at the start of the post-Bazball era for England, who trained on Monday in Leeds the day after the Hundred final.
The three players who were involved in the Lord’s showpiece – opener Ben Duckett and fast bowlers Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson – arrived in Yorkshire on Monday without taking part in practice.
That has contributed to England delaying the announcement of the XI 48 hours out, which was customary under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, although seamer Ollie Robinson trained after his partner gave birth to their baby daughter last week.
Cox has spent the past few weeks at Welsh Fire, alongside new England captain Joe Root, and enjoyed being able to become more acquainted with the Yorkshireman.
“I’ve got to know Joe on a different level,” Cox said. “It’s weird when you come into this (England) environment being in and out all the time to get to really know people.
“But to get to have three-and-a-half weeks with Joe to actually pick him off when we’re batting together in the nets and actually talk about cricket and life in general has been awesome.”
Cox has only batted once at first drop, making scores of 22 and 20 against Nottinghamshire in the 2019 County Championship, dismissed both times by India great Ravichandran Ashwin.
However, he bats at four for Essex while he spent much of his formative career opening for Kent, and he is relishing the experience of trying to make his mark in the top three for England.
Asked what his first thought was when he was called up, Cox said: “This will be fun!
“(National selector) Marcus North called me and said, ‘don’t change the way you’ve been playing in county cricket. Go and embrace the challenge and have fun’. That’s what I’m looking to do.”
Babar Azam, meanwhile, is a doubt to captain Pakistan at Headingley.
The 31-year-old injured a finger on his right hand during Pakistan’s series-levelling win over the West Indies in Trinidad a fortnight ago.
He was then struck on the same hand when batting during Pakistan’s warm-up against a Professional County Club Select XI in Beckenham, retiring hurt and not featuring in the rest of the match as a precaution.
While Babar batted in the nets as Pakistan trained on Monday morning, two days out from the series opener, his practice time was brief and he continues to be monitored.
PA
Read MoreJoe Root abandons team curfew after return as England Test captain
The Hundred has served its purpose – now who is it for?
Joe Root’s return as Test captain highlights English cricket’s missing generation
Joe Root abandons team curfew after return as England Test captain
The Hundred has served its purpose – now who is it for?
Andrew Flintoff steps down from England Lions role as coaching upheaval continues
