It is never too late to regain our credibility around the world,” declares Jeremy Gordon, a right-arm fast bowler and a dependable member of the Canadian Cricket team. Gordon was declared Player of the Match in Namibia against Papua New Guinea to win back its ODI status. The team has now triumphantly returned to Canada.
Gordon cast a devastating spell for Canada, scalping six wickets in his ten overs. His figures were the best for Canada in ODIs, beating Austin Codrington’s 20-year-old record set in Canada’s win over Bangladesh at the 2003 World Cup.
“It feels great; it was a long journey back to ODI cricket. I was actually on the tour when we lost it. So it was personal for me to be instrumental in getting it back, and I am pleased with our accomplishment, but the work starts now to maintain it”, states a happy Gordon.
Born Jeremy Oliver Alster Gordon on 20 January 1987 in New Amsterdam, Guyana, Gordon has been a natural at the game. In a country that has produced legends like Rohan Kanhai, Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd, Alvin Kallicharran, Basil Butcher, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Colin Croft, and Roy Fredericks, it is little wonder that the Guyanese boy with stars in his eyes would be a cricketing legend someday soon.
“I grew up idolizing legends like Courtney Walsh, Curtly Ambrose, Brian Lara and Ian Bishop,” Gordon begins recounting his cricketing journey. “While at school, when not studying, I would play tape-ball cricket in my spare time, especially in the rainy season – as most kids do in Guyana,” recollects Gordon.
“I just shot up to be the tallest among the boys. So teammates and friends suggested that I try fast bowling, and the rest is history”, Gordon is all smiles.
Gordon’s long, steady run-up and smooth, explosive jump had commentators and fans likening his action to that of West Indian bowling legends. It was then when veteran cricket administrator Carl Moore identified his talent.
“Mr. Moore was the man to see my ability before I could have seen it for myself,” reminisces a grateful Gordon.
Gordon represented Guyana at the under-15 level; he played the Under-19 level for Guyana in 2005 and 2006. In 2007 Gordon made his senior first-class debut for Guyana against the Leeward Islands and played two further senior matches for Guyana.
In 2006 Gordon migrated to Canada. He started by playing at the Club, League and provincial levels, which resulted in his selection for the national team. Gordon debuted in One Day International (ODI), representing Canada against Scotland in the 2012 ICC World Cricket League Championship. Gordon’s Twenty20 International (T20I) debut came in the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier against Ireland. Gordon played for Canada in the 2014 Cricket World Cup Qualifier too. Between 2016 and 2018, Gordon took a break from international cricket, citing personal reasons.
In October 2019, Gordon returned to professional cricket and was selected in the Canada squad for the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
In March 2023, Gordon was again named in team Canada for the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off. On 5 April 2023, he took his maiden six-wicket haul in ODIs, helping his team to defeat Papua New Guinea by 90 runs.
Like any pace bowler, Gordon’s greatest joy comes from “Rattling batters, watching the ball fly through at rapid pace,” and knowing that the batsman is afraid of him.“I’m self-trained, self-motivated and self-aware,” shares Gordon.” I used to bowl fast from the beginning; I had a natural action. I didn’t copy it from anyone.”
“My game has evolved in many ways; I’ve learned to play under pressure, stay in the moment, adapt to different situations and keep my composure.”
“A bowler’s job is not to scare batsmen but to startle them with a delivery and then get them out,” states Gordon.
That said, while Gordon is lethal on the ground aiming to get the best batsman of the opposition out, after play, he has a friendly and courteous disposition towards the opponent team members .
“My mindset is pretty simple. I have no ego. I’ll do whatever the team requires to regain its ODI status and push to qualify for the World Cup. I would adapt to suit the team plans and go with my coach,” affirms Gordon.
Gordon has a good working relationship with Cricket Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake. “He has clear plans, he’s big on doing the basic consistently, which has paid a dividend for sure,”comments Gordon.
For the reader’s knowledge, Gordon is the fastest bowler on the Canadian Cricket team and has an average bowling speed of 145. His speediest delivery was at a rate of 156 km/hour and, till today, is the fastest in Canada.
“Bowling fast comes naturally to me, but it still takes a lot of work behind the scene to maintain my fitness and stay injury-free,” shares Gordon. With several other professional and personal commitments, Gordon adheres to his 10 hours of weekly training . “With the ball in hand, I am in control. Moving the ball in and out doesn’t happen just like that. I didn’t learn to do it in a day. It took me years, and I worked hard for it”, states Gordon.
“Pace attack doesn’t break a batter. Selectors think fast bowlers can whitewash any team away, but it does not always work that way, “observes Gordon.
Among his many accolades, Gordon is a record holder for being the 5th oldest player to take a maiden 6 wickets in an innings.
But Gordon has another aspiration. He wants to develop his batting Gordon draws an analogy with Steve Smith, who transformed himself from a leg-spinner to a world-class batsman “I laugh at myself when I don’t take my batting seriously . A fast bowler conditions himself to think that he is not a batsman, which is ridiculous because you programmed your mind to feel like that,” laughs Gordon. “I would love to contribute runs at the bottom whenever presented with an opportunity to do so.” confides the bowler.
Besides being a committed soldier for the national cricket team, Gordon has also had a prolific franchise career playing for the Vancouver Knights in the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament and for the Toronto Nationals franchise team in the 2019 Global T20 Canada tournament.” Both were really great experience that have shaped my career, playing alongside the greats in T20. It has helped me to stay in the moment more, execute under pressure and gain deeper insight into my abilities,” mentions Gordon.
Though an engineer by profession handling executive responsibilities for a bank, Gordon’s ambitions are twined around cricket.
“I enjoy playing cricket to the core. It is just not my passion. It is my attitude, my life. I love it so much. I want to play ODI for Canada, participate in franchise cricket worldwide, and win the T20 World Cup,” Gordon opens up.
“It’s not my height that sets me apart from the rest. I put it higher than what I can see around me. I see beyond.
And I’m uncomfortable being in status quo; I would want to overthrow it,”
And Jeremy Gordon keeps going, no matter the obstacles.