England pacer Liam Plunkett says he is a completely different bowler now

When Liam Plunkett made his debut for England way back in the year 2005 against Pakistan, a lot of things were expected of him, putting him under some dire expectations before eventually being frozen out from the English squad. His survival in the first six years in international cricket was one of struggle and pain, with chances coming in through the revolving door.

Plunkett was an express-swing bowler who could contribute with the willow at the bottom of the order when the situation arose. Plunkett since then has only been able to reinvent himself in 2015, where he acquired more skills which now make him a prime candidate for an English comeback.

“I’m a completely different bowler. You’ve got to always be thinking and changing,” the pacer told Skysports on Friday (May 26).

“I’ve played long enough now where I’ve been in and out of the side, but I feel in the last year I’ve been one of the better bowlers and one of the most consistent. It’s nice to hear people consider you an established member of the team, and I feel I do deserve to be in the side.” the pacer added.

2016, the turnaround year in Plunkett’s career:

2016 has been one of the most important years in the pacer’s career with Plunkett picking up 32 wickets in 18 matches, at an average of 26.53. The figures and the numbers were totally in stark contrast to the start he had for the national side. Alongside his performances with the cherry, 32-year-old also made an impact with the bat scoring an unbeaten 22 against Sri Lanka to help the Three Lions to tie the match.

In order to strive at the top level, Plunkett concedes that there is a need to adapt and vary the pace. “You’ve got to keep adapting,” he pointed out. “Some people might play slower balls better than others, so you won’t bowl as many to them. You’ve got to change or people will work you out – and you’ll go round the park.”

The pacer further expressed that he wants to take nothing for granted if he wants to make more appearances for the national side. “There are people wanting to come in, so you need to keep improving. If you stay still, people are going to come in and do well. Little niggles, if you get rested for a game, someone comes in and performs you could lose your place,” the pacer concluded.

It is further to be seen what the right-arm quick could do if he gets another shot to be a reckoning figure in national team’s set-up. This would not only boost the confidence of the bowler but also would allow the selectors to play an experienced pacer in the line-up, helping the youngsters to ease in the squad.