Rest balance a challenge for Jordan

Chris Jordan has admitted he will have to find a way to adjust to periods of downtime when he is rested by England to ensure he gives himself the best chance of hitting the ground running when called upon.

Jordan was brought back into the England side for the third Investec Test at the Ageas Bowl but went wicketless in the match. It followed a period since the second Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley - where he also failed to register a scalp - where he had played just two matches for Sussex in a month; a T20 against Kent and a Championship match against Warwickshire.

As in the match against Warwickshire, where he impressed in the second innings with a three-wicket new-ball burst, Jordan said he felt more comfortable during the Test last week once he had got a few spells under his belt. His five overs in the second innings were his most probing of the match.

"It is a tough balance, but at the end of the day that's the job of international cricket. When you are around the squad you don't always play and you don't get that many windows to go back and play for your county," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I'm the sort of the bowler who likes to stay in rhythm but if I want to be successful at this level I have to find a way of adjusting and make sure I'm in good stead when I do get a call."

However, although he struggled for consistency in the first innings - where he finished with none for 59 in 17 overs - Jordan said he never became down on himself.

"Personally, in the first innings, I didn't bowl as well as I would have liked but it was nothing I got too down about. I thought about it a bit and bowled a much better spell in the second innings."

Jordan's Test career is just three matches old after his debut against Sri Lanka at Lord's but he said it was "overwhelming" to secure a first victory as England levelled the series with their 266-run success at the Ageas Bowl.

"To get the win the way we did was very special and a moment I'll remember for a while. I felt that performance at Southampton had been building. We'd been getting close in previous matches but weren't able to close it out but you couldn't have asked for much more last week. We won every big moment of the game. But we need to stay grounded at Old Trafford, it was just one performance and we must back it up."

When he was not bowling at the Ageas Bowl, Jordan spent most of his time at slip - where he snaffled a superb catch off Moeen Ali to remove Cheteshwar Pujara in India's second innings - so had one of the best views in the house to watch as James Anderson produced a Man-of-the-Match display. He is trying to soak in everything he can from England's senior quicks to develop his own game.

"I've learnt something in every game I've played, even just in the practice sessions. I just try to absorb as much as I can. I'm nowhere near the finished product but hopefully I'm not too far away."

Jordan's chances of retaining his place for the fourth Test at Old Trafford may have improved with the news that Liam Plunkett has been ruled out with an ankle injury. He has fond memories of his last appearance at the ground when he helped skittle Sri Lanka for 67 in the one-day international earlier this season with figures of 5 for 29.

"It was a wicket I really enjoyed in the ODI," he said, "so if I get the nod I have good memories so hopefully it will be more of the same."