Mark Ramprakash has paid a glowing tribute to Chris Jordan as he prepares to link up with England’s Twenty20 squad.

Jordan is in the party for the Vitality IT20 matches against Australia and India.

And Ramprakash, who is relishing his first experience of leading the Lions as head coach during the A-team Tri-Series against India and West Indies, believes the Sussex man is in great shape.

Jordan, who was a late inclusion in the Lions squad after Craig Overton’s call into the England one-day set-up, produced a match-changing over against the West Indies in Derby on Saturday.

He dismissed the dangerous Jermaine Blackwood for 40 with his fifth ball and immediately trapped Devon Thomas lbw to complete a double wicket maiden.

He ended with 3-25 from eight overs, after taking 1-47 from nine in the Lions’ opening victory over India on Friday.

Ramprakash said: “I can’t speak highly enough of how he has gone about his business, on and off the field.

“In CJ we’ve seen someone who’s very comfortable in his own skin.

“He’s shown great maturity, he’s spoken well in team meetings, he’s got great experience now with several IPL competitions behind him.

“His action and run-up is very smooth, he’s been very accurate, he’s bowled with good pace, obviously he’s an excellent fielder and he can bat.

“So he’s the sort of cricketer that any team would want.

“We’re sorry to see him go, although obviously we understand that’s one of the roles of the Lions, playing our part to get players ready to perform for England.”

England face Australia in the shortest format at Edgbaston tomorrow (6.30pm).

That is followed by a three-match series against India next week, at Old Trafford, Cardiff and Bristol.