Surrey's Chris Jordan may be rated as the next big thing in English cricket after bursting on to the county scene last season, but he is in no rush to pin his colours to the international mast.

The 19-year-old former Dulwich College student has dreamed of playing international cricket since he was a four-year-old in Barbados.

And, after helping the Brown Caps to Liverpool Victoria County Championship Division One safety at the end of last season, he has made quick progress.

Jordan made his full county debut on 2007 while studying for his A-levels, two years after being plucked from the Caribbean with the offer of a cricket scholarship by England legend and Dulwich College coach Bill Athey.

The youngster has not looked back since - but ask him which country he is likely to be plying his trade for when he fulfils his dream, and he is a little slower off the mark.

"I just want to play international cricket. I always wanted to be a professional cricketer and I have fulfilled that, so I just want to go on from there," he said.

"I don't have a first choice at the moment. The West Indies have not approached me about their U19 team and I am not elligible for England until 2010.

"It is a decision I will take when the time comes."

Jordan claimed 20 championship scalps last season - having bagged 42 for his school the previous summer - including Test stars Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Inzamam-ul-Haq.

And the young all-rounder feels there is plenty more to come.

"I don't feel any added pressure after last season. The couple of games I have started I have just concentrated on bowling and it has worked for me so far," he added.

"I like bowling, hitting the stumps and taking edges. I haven't had much success with the bat, so I guess I prefer taking wickets.

"I put the ball in the right areas and wait until the batsman plays a rash shot or I bowl a good enough ball to get the edge or hit the stumps. Patience is the key.

"Hopefully, I can add more pace to my game as I get older.

"When I get more cricket under my belt, hopefully the extra pace will come naturally."

Surrey is a particularly hard nut to crack for any aspiring young player, and Jordan had a word of advice for his contemporaries.

"It only takes a string of performances to make the breakthrough and get noticed," he said.

"It doesn't come over-night. You have to be in the nets 24/7, bowling and hitting a lot of balls.

"You have to persevere and the opportunity will come."