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[VIDEO] "Shoaib just smiled at me and said ‘I’m gonna kill you’ and laughed" : Liam Plunkett
England fast bowler Liam Plunkett recently recalled his Test debut against Pakistan where he had to face an in-form Shoaib Akhtar for the first time in his international career. Akhtar, who is one of the quickest bowlers to have played the game, was known for his blistering pace. Akhtar terrorised some of the best batsmen of his generation during his playing days and enjoyed some fierce duels with them.
Plunkett used to play with Akhtar for Durham in the English county, however, their friendship was swept aside when the Englishman came out to bat against Pakistan in his debut Test match in Lahore in 2005. Akhtar was bowling in full swing for Pakistan and Plunkett was readying himself to tackle the Rawalpindi Express with fear written all over his face. “Frightening stuff,” said Plunkett as he recalled facing Akhtar on his Test debut.
He recalled the fiery spell from Akhtar in an interview with The Broken Trophy podcast. Plunkett said Akhtar was intimidating to face and threatened to kill him when he walked out to bat as a number nine for England.
“In county cricket, I was first-change to Shoaib and Harmy. I was at slip for Harmy and leg-slip for Shoaib. I faced Shoaib Akhtar in my first ever Test match. Because I played with Durham before that, I was marking my run-up before the Test and he just smiled and said ‘I’m gonna kill you’ and laughed," recalled Plunkett.
“I remember it like it was yesterday because I had my bat, at that time – you think [now] these bats are so thick and stuff – but it was Kashmir willow, it was real thin. And I was sat ready to bat, I was next in, and the TV screen’s right there, so you can see it’s like 96, 97, 96 [miles per hour]. Ashley Giles’ stumps get taken out, and I walk out to a guy who’s bowling 90 miles an hour," Plunkett added.
Though Akhtar didn't manage to get Plunkett's wicket in the first innings, a lethal bouncer from him hit Plunkett on his shoulder. The member of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad said he almost 'sh** his pants' after being hit. But Plunkett did manage to weather the storm and went on to face as many as 51 deliveries in his first Test knock of 9 runs.
“I remember the first one, it looked like I played it well,” he said. “You duck and you turn and you can see it travel to the keeper and the keeper catches it. I got my first medal of honour, he hit me on the shoulder. I pretty much sh** my pants at that point," Plunkett added.
Plunkett was then trapped lbw by Akhtar in the second innings as the Rawalpindi Express went on to pick up a five-wicket haul to help Pakistan win the Test match by an innings and 100 runs.
https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...b-akhtar-in-his-debut-test-for-england/609765
England fast bowler Liam Plunkett recently recalled his Test debut against Pakistan where he had to face an in-form Shoaib Akhtar for the first time in his international career. Akhtar, who is one of the quickest bowlers to have played the game, was known for his blistering pace. Akhtar terrorised some of the best batsmen of his generation during his playing days and enjoyed some fierce duels with them.
Plunkett used to play with Akhtar for Durham in the English county, however, their friendship was swept aside when the Englishman came out to bat against Pakistan in his debut Test match in Lahore in 2005. Akhtar was bowling in full swing for Pakistan and Plunkett was readying himself to tackle the Rawalpindi Express with fear written all over his face. “Frightening stuff,” said Plunkett as he recalled facing Akhtar on his Test debut.
He recalled the fiery spell from Akhtar in an interview with The Broken Trophy podcast. Plunkett said Akhtar was intimidating to face and threatened to kill him when he walked out to bat as a number nine for England.
“In county cricket, I was first-change to Shoaib and Harmy. I was at slip for Harmy and leg-slip for Shoaib. I faced Shoaib Akhtar in my first ever Test match. Because I played with Durham before that, I was marking my run-up before the Test and he just smiled and said ‘I’m gonna kill you’ and laughed," recalled Plunkett.
“I remember it like it was yesterday because I had my bat, at that time – you think [now] these bats are so thick and stuff – but it was Kashmir willow, it was real thin. And I was sat ready to bat, I was next in, and the TV screen’s right there, so you can see it’s like 96, 97, 96 [miles per hour]. Ashley Giles’ stumps get taken out, and I walk out to a guy who’s bowling 90 miles an hour," Plunkett added.
Though Akhtar didn't manage to get Plunkett's wicket in the first innings, a lethal bouncer from him hit Plunkett on his shoulder. The member of England's 2019 World Cup-winning squad said he almost 'sh** his pants' after being hit. But Plunkett did manage to weather the storm and went on to face as many as 51 deliveries in his first Test knock of 9 runs.
“I remember the first one, it looked like I played it well,” he said. “You duck and you turn and you can see it travel to the keeper and the keeper catches it. I got my first medal of honour, he hit me on the shoulder. I pretty much sh** my pants at that point," Plunkett added.
Plunkett was then trapped lbw by Akhtar in the second innings as the Rawalpindi Express went on to pick up a five-wicket haul to help Pakistan win the Test match by an innings and 100 runs.
https://www.timesnownews.com/sports...b-akhtar-in-his-debut-test-for-england/609765
