Inspired by Ronaldo and LeBron, Liam Plunkett chases World Cup spot

[giri26]

As he prepared to turn 34 next week, England pace bowler Liam Plunkett has cast his gaze towards two of the world’s biggest sporting icons for inspiration.

Plunkett, who made his international debut in 2005, is not looking at slowing down post the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and hopes to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James, both 34, to keep pushing himself.

Having followed the success and training methods of Juventus forward Ronaldo and NBA superstar James, Plunkett hoped to keep his body in shape.

“You don’t want to go away from what works but you need to improve on that,” he said. “You’ve got your variations and that but my variations only work when I’m bowling late-80s (mph). Do you need to get lighter as you get older to get that snap? That’s what I’ve tried to do over the last two months, to train different. I always feel like I’m in good shape but do you get lighter? (READ: England’s fast-bowling stocks competitive ahead of World Cup: Woakes)

“Reading the articles with the best sportsmen like Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James, as you get older, you get lighter and then you still get that snap and you get more powerful, so that’s something I’m working on because I still want to run up and bowl 90mph.”

In England’s most recent ODI assignment – the 2-2 draw in the West Indies – Plunkett joined Chris Woakes, David Willey, Mark Wood and Tom Curran as the team’s pace assets. He hopes to make the April 23 cut for this summer’s World Cup, having managed one wicket in the ODI series.

“I feel like I should be in that 15, I feel I’ve played well and I’ve been one of England’s best seamers in the last few years,” he said. “My pace was just coming back towards the end of that (West Indies) trip and that’s why I’ve continued to bowl the last couple of weeks. It’s good to play for Surrey now to get that rhythm and that snap.”

The Barbados-born allrounder Jofra Archer is eligible to play for England and his name has been taken by Eoin Morgan and Trevor Bayliss with regards to a short home series with Pakistan before the World Cup. Plunkett is aware of Archer’s threat but did not choose to think about it.

“Reading the press, [Archer] might get a chance against Pakistan, he’s a good cricketer so whatever happens, happens. The other bowlers can’t do anything about that, you just have to go back and perform for your county,” he said. “I’m not really one for thinking too much about these things. I did that too much when I was younger – ‘am I going to get on this tour or this tour?’ – you weren’t really focusing on the now, you’re going out and you’re always looking one step ahead and that’s when you don’t perform.”

The World Cup begins on May 30.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Plu...DhAhVV7XMBHQ7bAQ44FBDy0wMIZw&biw=1366&bih=657

 

[MenInG]

Plunkett hopes to keep his personal run going against New Zealand in his native Durham

In-form Liam Plunkett returns to his native north-east laughing off the idea of being England’s tournament talisman.

The absence of the popular pace bowler has been a common factor in all three losses for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup hosts, while he has featured in four of their five successes.

He claimed three wickets in the crucial 31-run win against India on Sunday, responding to his latest recall with the wickets of Virat Kohli, century-maker Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant.

And with victory over New Zealand at The Riverside on Wednesday set to guarantee England a semi-final spot, Plunkett will expect to retain his place for what is another critical encounter.

Is it simply a case of he plays and England win? “It is nice to have that,” Plunkett joked. “Actually, I think it’s just the way things have worked out, but it is nice to play and to play a part in a winning team.

“The India game was like a final for us so the pressure was on. Nobody was there in our dressing room celebrating afterwards because we know we need to win again and get the momentum going. New Zealand will be like another final.

“I don’t think we were more nervous than usual. The best thing about us is the way we approach our cricket. We don’t go into our shells. If we did, we would go off into the distance.

“We are told to play positively, express ourselves and if we perform anywhere near our best, we will win games. New Zealand are a good team, right up there, but I think we are ready for it and we can be positive having just beaten one of the best teams in the competition.”

Plunkett’s domestic career has taken him gradually further south, from Durham to Yorkshire then Surrey, in south London. England will certainly not lack for local knowledge because Mark Wood and Ben Stokes are still Durham players.

Like Wood, Plunkett was vulnerable even as a member of the squad to the late qualification of Jofra Archer, and he admitted pacing the room in a state of nervous tension before national selector Ed Smith confirmed his position in the fifteen.

Captain Eoin Morgan recognised Plunkett’s ability to take wickets after the new ball bursts with pace and variations, when he plotted England’s way back from the disappointment of 2015.

The bowler admits that he struggled at times following a meteoric introduction to international cricket which took in the 2007 World Cup, and he fell well behind for a place in the next two tournaments.

“I am disappointed when I’m not playing, but it isn’t about personal figures,” Plunkett said. “It is all about team results and asking whether I can keep improving even at 34.

“I don’t think anyone sulks when they are not playing. People will know a player left out is frustrated, but you can’t show it. It will be great now to get back up to the north. I love that part of the country and I know the ground.”

 

[JaDed]

He was a Major difference, kept bowling cross seam And Rohit just couldn’t play the uneven bounce and Kohli gave away to him as well, the Pant wicket was all Woakes not his credit, that was a tremendous catch.

 

[Robert]

An astounding catch for a 6’5” bowler running at full pelt.

 

[gazza619]

A good addition to England’s plan. Though I feel Kiwi batsmen are going to play him much smarter. You just need to look out for 50% cutters when Plunkett bowls. Dont think if he has a good bumper or a deadly yorker.

 

[gazza619]

Liam Plunkett has become England’s lucky charm – and even when they looked dead and buried the veteran seamer knew they were destined for glory.
England are world champions for the first time in the history of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup – after a thrilling final victory over New Zealand at Lord’s.

Ben Stokes’ heroics rescued a chase that looked all but over and then performed more miracles in the Super Over alongside Jos Buttler.

The Black Caps then fell agonisingly short in response, and Plunkett ends this World Cup unbeaten – England’s three group-stage losses happened with Plunkett left out of the XI.

And after a four-year journey under captain Eoin Morgan that has taken them to the top of the world – the 34-year-old believes destiny has played its part.

“The old lucky charm thing, I was riding with it! I was hoping the coach thinks that so I can get a game,” he said.

“What a day, it’s been a long journey! I played against Ross Taylor in the first World Cup I played, and now in the blink of an eye I am playing him at Lord’s.

“I don’t believe in the stars and all that stuff, but it was the first time that I felt: ‘This is meant to be.’
“We have played together as a group for the last four years and we have played difference countries and we have dominated teams.

“I just felt we did deserve it as a bunch of guys.
“We are good mates but we also work hard. Everyone else does but I felt it was meant to be.
“Especially when those overthrows went, that changed the tide.”

Plunkett was selected way back for the 2007 World Cup as a young tyro, but since has had to bide his time with long spells in the international wilderness.
But after this watershed moment on free-to-air TV – he hopes the first Ashes winning team of 2005 that inspired a nation have been replicated 14 years on.
He added: “The last four years playing for England was the best time of my life.

“Even if we didn’t win the World Cup it would have still be a journey. We have been amazing, we have changed the culture of cricket in England.
“People expect us to win which is a lot different from a few years back.

“To watch guys like Jos, freaks like Jofra step up to the plate, it’s amazing for me to just watch it.
“What a day, it has changed the history of English cricket and everyone got to watch that. I hope everyone gets involved and loves it like when we won the Ashes. It was a special day.”

Plunkett has chipped in with big wickets all tournament – he dismissed Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and Quinton de Kock to name but three – but he got the biggest fish of all on Sunday.

Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson nicked off to Jos Buttler as England tightened the screw and Plunkett was delighted to return to England’s side at just the right time.

“Kane is a massive player and to get a crucial wicket is what I do pride myself on so it was nice to get that," he added.

“As soon as I came up the hill (from the Nursery End) I felt comfortable attacking the crease, it felt a lot better.

“To get that wicket and close up and not go for many wickets. I was satisfied but I knew the job was half done.

“You cannot be too bitter (if you are out the team), you can be bitter and upset inside that you are not playing. Especially if you feel like you are doing well. But look at TC (Tom Curran), he has done nothing wrong, his stats have been class.

“You can be disappointed but you have to turn up and keep training.

“And when you get the nod, you have got perform.”