Jordan Cox slammed a 73-ball hundred for Essex in the County Championship today (June 12), days after he was recalled to England's Test squad for their second match of the summer against New Zealand.
Cox, who is playing his first first-class game in almost a year, came in at No.4 after Essex got off to a tricky start. They lost both of their opening batters within the first eight overs of the match, slipping to 8-2 before Cox and Tom Westley came together.
Cox immediately launched into a counter-attack, hitting 18 off his first nine balls at the crease before slamming a cover drive off Josh Davey for four. By the time he reached his half-century, off 41 balls, Essex had recovered to 88-2. It only took him 32 balls to make his second half-century, bringing up three figures off his 73rd ball at the crease with a maximum hit off fellow England squad member Rehan Ahmed, hit straight down the ground.
Westley and Cox went into Tea unbeaten, having put on 147 runs together. The second ball after Tea, however, their partnership was broken, when Westley was dismissed by Rehan, mistiming a powerful pull shot to a ball that kept low.
With Matt Critchley at the crease, Essex continued to pile on the runs. Critchley tore into Rehan, dispatching him for four boundaries in two overs, including a flat six over midwicket. The 50 partnership between the pair came up off 70 balls, Critchley having hit 34 of the runs. Critchley brought up his 50 off 81 balls.
At the other end, Cox continued to motor, although not quite at the pace he began his innings with. He reached his 150 off 144 balls. He finished the day unbeaten on 184 off 177, approaching what would be his third first-class double hundred. Critchley was bowled by Joey Evison three runs short of his hundred.
Cox marks England recall with rapid century
While Cox has previously been named in several England Test squads, he has never made a starting XI. In New Zealand in 2024, when he was called up to replace Jamie Smith who was on paternity leave, Cox broke his finger during training shortly before the first Test of the series, in which he was set to make his Test debut. After he was included in England's squad to face Zimbabwe last year, he picked up an abdominal injury ahead of joining up with the squad.
Cox wasn't included in England's squad for the opening Test of the summer last week, but was included in the XV named for the second Test at The Oval after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were both left out. He will face a tough route into the XI, however, with England needing to replace both Stokes' all-rounder capabilities and Atkinson's role with the new ball.
Follow Wisden for all cricket updates, including live scores, match stats, quizzes and more. Stay up to date with the latest cricket news, player updates, team standings, match highlights, video analysis and live match odds.
