Jordan called into England's T20 squad

Chris Jordan will remain with the England squad for the three-match T20 series against Australia beginning in Hobart on 29 January. Jordan, who has made a good impression in the one day series against Australia, replaces Steven Finn in the 15-man squad.

Jordan, revitalised since his move from Surrey to Sussex last summer, now has a chance to push his claims for a place in England's World T20 squad in Bangladesh. At 25, he must reflect how his career has suddenly taken a turn for the better since his move to the south coast.

Jordan's promotion brings another beneficiary, and a more unlikely one. Liam Plunkett's career was under threat when his bowling action fell into disarray at Durham, but a move to Yorkshire, where he came under the guidance of the former Australian quick Jason Gillespie, also rescued his career.

Plunkett now replaces Jordan in the England Lions squad in Sri Lanka, a tour which has taken on extra significance with England's side in greater flux than for many years. The Lions will play two three-day matches in Colombo against a Sri Lanka A Team Emerging Players XI, followed by three three four-day matches against Sri Lanka A in Kandy, Dambulla and Colombo.

Plunkett's action is not the most stable thing in the world so Yorkshire could be forgiven a little apprehension at his unexpected return to an England squad as he approaches his 29th birthday.

Finn, meanwhile, will be left to rebuild his game in pre-season at Middlesex, under the supervision of Middlesex's director of cricket, Angus Fraser, and bowling coach Richard Johnson. He did not play a competitive match against Australia in almost three months before returning to England this week for remedial work with limited-overs coach Ashley Giles conceding that his problems had rendered him ``not selectable''.

It would take an extraordinary change of heart for Finn to be considered for World Twenty20, especially as he has no opportunity for outdoor cricket before the tournament begins on March 16.

He was named in the provisional 30-strong squad but England's wise decision not to turn the Lions tour into an on-field remedial session for Finn before Middlesex's work properly begins confirms that they are looking elsewhere. Assessment of his progress will turn instead to Middlesex's early-season Championship matches.