Ali Jordan still picking up awards, with CD life membership bestowed

Taranaki cricket legend Ali Jordan earned yet another accolade this week, with Life membership of Central Districts Cricket awarded ahead of the Stags’ game against Canterbury at Pukekura Park on Wednesday.
As a fiery fast bowler Jordan was first selected for CD as an 18-year-old in 1968 and was CD first class cricket player No 89 and List A player No 4.
He played 55 consecutive games over 11 seasons and was the main spearhead of the attack during that period. There were also 12 List A games played for a total of 67 games in the CD colours.
Jordan was noted as a particularly fierce competitor, where every ball was bowled with maximum effort. Competitiveness, aggressiveness, team focus and loyalty were his hallmarks.
There were 9433 express balls delivered from a thundering run-up in the 55 CD games, 157 wickets executed at an average of 28.22, and a further 17 wickets at an average of 18 in the CD List A fixtures.
There were seven bags of five wickets in an innings with a best performance of 7-82 against Otago in a fixture where CD were so far behind at the end of Day 2 that the association announced free entry for the public on Day 3.
With the CD tail wagging on the third morning and Jordan bowling with extreme hostility, albeit with an injury, Otago were beaten outright.
There were also three first class games for New Zealand, when he was selected for the 72/73 tour to Australia, The Rest, and NZ under 23’s. All-in-all the 11 seasons involved 58 first class matches and 165 wickets.
There were two Plunket Shield championships won under Vic Pollard and Bevan Congdon and there was a short period as captain towards the end of his career.
Jordan also played 104 game for Taranaki over a 25-year period having debuted as a 16-year old. He took 375 wickets (over 100 more wickets than the next most) at an average of 19; including 27 five wicket bags and on six occasions taking 10 wickets in a game. His best figures were 9-103 against a strong Hutt Valley side in a Hawke Cup defense. With a top score of 77 he also managed to average 17 with the bat.
In 2011 his playing stature was recognized with selection in the ‘Hawke Cup Team of the Century’ based on his powerful influence in Taranaki’s successful defenses in the early 70’s.
On retiring from playing there were 22 seasons coaching and selecting the Taranaki representative side. The first 10 were as the Head Coach during which time Taranaki would win the Hawke Cup, whilst the others were as the assistant coach and selector.
Jordan’s stature in Taranaki has already been acknowledged with Life Membership of Taranaki Cricket, as an ambassador of the Taranaki Events Centre Trust, an inductee in the Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame, and he has received a Citizens Award from the New Plymouth District Council.
Congratulations from TCA to a titan of Taranaki cricket.

Full CD write up and photos here.