Test Match Special
The blog from the boundary
All entries in this category: Liam Plunkett
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Looking forward to Moores era
I was disappointed not to play more games in the World Cup than the three in which I featured.After playing in the first two games, I was dropped and told this was because of my .
I came back for the final match against the West Indies and really struggled. I think some people expected me to come in and do really well but it’s really hard to find your best form straight away.
It was frustrating watching the games from the sidelines desperately wanting to be able to help England out but I wasn’t picked and there was nothing I could do about it...
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Looking to win my place back
Well we're in now and looking forward to the matches against Sri Lanka and the Aussies.I played in the first two games of the tournament and was reasonably steady so I’m disappointed not to have played since - but there is still opportunity for me to get back in to the team in the remaining games.
There was quite a bit of talk about the team’s discipline in St Lucia and the fact is we shouldn’t have been out so late. We have said sorry, accepted our punishment and want to put this behind us now.
Everyone is clued into the cricket and regardless of all those bad headlines, this World Cup has been a good experience.
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Settling in to the Caribbean vibe
St Lucia - I’ve been to the Caribbean on holiday but never to play before. It’s been my dream to play in the World Cup and to do it in such a beautiful place is even better.The first week and a half of our trip has been really successful and the lads have trained really hard.
We but the team learned a lot about the wickets we will have to play on.
The off-cutters and leg-cutters that and Stuart Clark mixed in were the main reason they won and we have to try and do the same.
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Big chance to stake my World Cup claim
It has been great to finally get a chance to play in Australia - although understandably I was a little bit nervous.There’s no getting away from the fact Australia have played brilliantly all series so to go in at the deep end against them was a tough challenge and I did feel a little bit like a rabbit caught in the headlights.
We lost the match by but in a funny kind of way I enjoyed the experience.
I felt a lot better in my second game against New Zealand and was pleased with my contributions with bat and ball...
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Still here and ready to play
A lot of you out there might be wondering what I’ve been up to since my last entry.Some of you might even be asking whether I’m still out here in Australia.
Well the answer is yes and I’m eager to get involved in the action after a couple of frustrating injuries.
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I'm looking forward to some match action
I’m getting ready for my first real action of the Ashes series as I’ve been picked to play in the two tour matches over the weekend – against a Chairman’s XI on Friday and Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday.When all you’re doing is training all the time it gets a bit depressing so it’s going to be nice to get out on the pitch and play a bit of cricket.
playing and he’s in such good form for Australia I think I’ll have to try and injure him to give England a better chance – only joking....!
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We've brought the English weather to Australia!
I’ve been in Australia for two weeks now but I must say the weather feels distinctly English.There has been in New South Wales and hail storms in Sydney.
We are in Adelaide at the moment and there is a nip in the air – it’s more like Durham in spring than Australia!
It’s amazing how much the long flight and time difference messes up your body clock and it’s been a pain to get my sleeping pattern back to normal.
I’ve been waking up at 5am absolutely starving!
Continue reading "We've brought the English weather to Australia!"
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Sledging doesn't bother me
This is it! Me and the rest of the England squad head off to Australia later today and I can't wait.I'm not nervous at all, just excited about the next couple of months Down Under.
Once again, thank you for sending in so many good wishes ahead of the series, I have really appreciated your kind words. before I go, here are a few more answers to some of your questions.
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Bring on the Ashes!
It’s only a few days until I begin the biggest winter of my career and I’ve not even thought about packing yet so I had better get on with it.I can’t wait to step on the plane on Friday and get going to Australia - I’m really excited about it.
We are normally allocated seats on the plane in alphabetical order so it looks like I’ll be next to Monty Panesar and Kevin Pietersen, which is an interesting mix of characters.
We’ve all had to hand our passports in to the ECB so there’s no chance of anyone missing the flight because they’ve forgotten to bring theirs.
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All-rounder ambitions
With our departure for Australia little more than a week away, your questions keep coming in the comments section of each week's entry.Here are the answers to just a few of them, including one putting me in some pretty good company.
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Swimming is all the fashion
(Watch my interview with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Newcastle).
This week I've been doing a lot of swimming as a way of keeping my training interesting but also as a way to keep the pressure off my legs.As I injured my side a couple of months ago it is still occasionally a little sore and stiff so it's important not to push it too hard, even though I'm feeling fitter than ever.
Along with the other Test players in Loughborough at the moment, I do a bit of lane swimming and we use floats to focus on the strength in our legs.
A typical session will be a pyramid, with four 25m lengths - each one takes about 17 seconds - then two 50m sets, one 75m then back down the other side.
We're all pretty similar in terms of speed but I'm not telling you who is fastest. That's classified.
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Grin and bear it
Thanks for your responses to my last blog entry and continued good wishes ahead of the Ashes series. Our first game is only three weeks away now and I can't wait to get out there.
In the meantime, here are the answers to some of your questions and watch out for my third blog next week.
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Boxing spices up my cricket training
The Ashes seem to be looming up quickly now and I’ve been having some sessions with Durham fitness coach Colin Sanctuary and a few of my county team-mates.It was part weights and part aerobic exercise, using rowing machines and bikes, and I always love that kind of stuff because you always feel energised once you have done it.
I’ve also been doing a bit of boxing to spice my training up a bit....
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Thanks for the warm welcome!
Wow, I am impressed my first blog entry has generated so much interest - with most of the comments of a positive nature so thanks for that!
I will of course be reading all of them and it is nice to have had such a warm welcome and messages of support as I prepare for the .
I have picked out a few entries to reply to but keep them coming and look out for my second blog very soon.
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Making my blog debut
You’re probably wondering why I’m writing this blog instead of being in India with England for the .Well the reason is, I wasn't picked for the squad as I was recovering from a side strain.
But I'm in the Ashes squad and I've got some exclusive news...
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