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.
Kenny Perry wrote:
Do you have any ambitions to become a genuine all-rounder in the same category as Freddie [Flintoff] and [Jacques] Kallis?
As a youngster I did once hit 150 and took five wickets in the same match, but that wasn't against Test-quality bowling.
I think any player in my position would be happy to be compared to Freddie and Jacques, but my plan for the moment is to concentrate on my bowling and then start chipping in more with the bat.
I've got to take aim at a first Test 50 first of all. It can be tough as an attacking batsman at Test level, because you get so few bad balls to put away. Your concentration has to be rock-solid.
Zak Hussain wrote:
At the end of each day's play in a Test match, what do you guys do when you go back to your hotel rooms?
It's mainly recovery stuff to get us over the day's play. I'll have a massage if I've been bowling and obviously have a spot of food, but I'm often exhausted and in bed by 9pm.
A lot of the time you're too tired to go out to eat - you just order room service in your hotel room.
It means that a Test just flies by - you're up early, not done playing until 7pm and then in bed asleep a few hours later.
Alan writes:
I'm 15 and play cricket for my local team but I want to find a extra yard of pace. My action is rather simular to yours. Any tips on how to find the extra yard?
I'd say, Alan, that the main thing is to concentrate on getting your action right and working on your technique.
Get those in place and the speed will come naturally as you get older and stronger.
The danger of trying to bowl too fast is that your action will suffer. I only really started getting real pace into my bowling from the age of 17, and as I've got stronger each subsequent year I've got faster.
I bowled my fastest-ever ball last summer, and I hope I'll get quicker still. Your fitness also makes a big difference - so work on that too.
Finn writes:
Whose will be the most sought-after wicket in the Aussie side in the Ashes series?
I can see situations where any of the wickets could be the most prized.
If the openers are looking well set then removing one of them would be a big breakthrough. Another time it might be winkling out the skipper, Ricky Ponting, and another time a real flair player like Adam Gilchrist who has the potential to hurt you pretty quickly.
Hopefully I'll be able to trouble them all - if I get the ball swinging and find some bounce, I should be able to cause some problems.
Payoj writes:
There was a picture of you in a newspaper playing chess against Freddie Flintoff in India. How would you rate your chess skills?
My chess skills are very average. In fact, they're probably not even that.
The picture you mentioned was for Freddie's book - he just needed someone to sit down opposite him and play chess for the photograph, and I happened to be in the vincinity.
We only "played" for about a minute.
Chris writes:
Is there any rivalry between you and Steve Harmison, with him being a Geordie and you a Boro lad?
Not that much, actually. I know he's a big Newcastle fan and I'm from Middlesbrough, but I'm not so into football that I'll be crying into my pillow if my home team lose.
I also respect Steve massively for what he's done in Test cricket over the last five years - if I end up being as successful as him, I'll be delighted.
Liam,
Have you ever considered appearing on a Question of Sport? I mean, it would be brilliant if you were on; you would probably get all the questions right. Everyone else, well nearly everyone else, has been on it including Alastair cook, Monty Panesar, Michael Vaughan, Steve Harmison etc. PLEASE see if you can get on a show...one day...
Keep up the good work with your blog by the way, it's really great.
Mariam
Complain about this postHi Liam,
I am a pace bowler and next season will be my first season playing as a 'semi Pro' for a District premier league side. I was wondering when you first turned proffesional, how did you curb the pressure of having to perform well every game because your being paid to play??
Regards (and i wish you the very best in aus!! stick it to em!)
Alex
Complain about this postHi Liam,If selected, what are your personal expectations from the Ashes series?
Complain about this postMy friend recently attended the ODI at Egbaston between England and Pakistan. He said that he saw the England players enjoying themelseves out afterwards. He also said there was only one Pakistan player. Do both sides ever go out together after a game ?
Complain about this postHi Liam
When England fly on tour do you travel Business Class and how do you pass the time on long haul flights?
Thanks
David
Complain about this postLiam, I am constantly bemused by modern fast bowlers, bowling no balls given that some frequently hit the 90mph mark. Can you explain why they continue to get so close to the line and risk a no ball when those few inches can't possibly matter at 90mph+?
Complain about this postLiam,
Complain about this postAre you related at all to Saracen's rugby player Ben Johnston? You look so much alike at times. Good luck for the winter
You always mention that you try to "kiss the pitch". why do you try do this?
Complain about this postI mean you are a tall bowler, so why not try to "bang it in" like other tall bowlers, e.g. flintoff, harmi and some of the old great west-indian bowlers.
Describe your perfect day away from cricket.
Complain about this postLiam, I have been a big fan of cricket for several years now and have enjoyed the rise of the test team. Any chance of a one-day revival?
Complain about this postHave you always dreamed of playing international cricket. I'm 13 and I just love playing and I love winning. I work hard on batting and bowling, but I've never really thought of playing cricket at a higher level because it is so hard at this current age. Do you have any tips?
Complain about this postHello Liam i hope I find you well
Do you ever miss playing for Durham?
I follow county cricket closely in season and (this year especially) a few players have been called up to the England squad without getting a game - your teammate Graeme Onions comes to mind. So if Durham have an important game but you have orders to rest do you get frustrated?
Complain about this postHi Liam,
I grew up believing that cricket was a game for gentlemen and personally I am disgusted at sledging. What's your opinion on the subject and how do you plan to cope with the sledging down under?
The best of luck in the upcoming series.
Phil Keegan
Complain about this postHow old were you when you first realised that you could make it to England scene?
Complain about this postIf you could play any position, what would it be.
Complain about this postHi Liam,
Complain about this postThanks for answering my question! Stuart Broad claimed in an interview that he aimed to go for about 4 an over, how many runs would you say you aim to go for per over, and how often do you think you achieve it?
Good luck for the Ashes, and please don't stop blogging!
Hi Liam
I umpire most weekends during the summer so don't often get a chance to go and watch county/England games. But I am glued to the TV during the winter watching every ball I can.
Love the blog, its really good to hear about what a rising star of the England set-up gets up to when not actually playing.
Despite the disapointing form of England in India I know that we can still beat the Aussies. Hopefully you will take quite a few of the wickets and score some of the runs vital to us retaining the Ashes.
Good luck to you and all the lads for the long winter ahead.
Everyone at home will be rooting for you.
Mark
Complain about this postLiam, Your a legend along with the other young players in the team, you've all come so far it's great to see your commitment and determination, i admire it so much! since the ashes last year the cricket scene has been up on the increase, i love it now and can't miss one single game.Good luck down under,all the best!
Complain about this postp.s hope the injury is getting better
Liam:
Looking at recent matches that England have lost, is there any that you would look back on and say "if I'd been playing we'd have won that one"?
[I don't expect you to criticise your teammates, but I can think of at least one match where England fielded completely the wrong attack for the conditions and paid for it]
Complain about this postI bowled at you in your Bangladesh trip in 2004 with the U-19 World Cup team. How are the likes of Broadbent, Bopara and Patel doing?
Complain about this posthi liam!
Complain about this postreally enjoy reading your blog posts. i'm a huge fan of jimmy and i was wondering if he is as quiet as he seems to be? do you get along well with him?
What do you prefer playing, one day cricket or test match cricket? Which do you think your game is suited to and that of the rest of the England team?
Complain about this postWhy does there not appear to be an obvious link back to the 大象传媒 sport page from these 'blog' things? Apologies if I've missed it.
Complain about this postBest of luck.....................*> LIam PLunkett
Complain about this postmy prayers are are with u
To the man who complained about there being no link back to the main bbc sports page, try the back button on your tool bar. I usually find that this works. Keep up the good work Liam.
Complain about this posthi liam on the scale of 1 to 10 how do you rate are chances in the ashes i hope we win best of luck
Complain about this postThink you are not gonaa make it to either the Ashes or the world cup squad. Accept it, there are better guys out there.
/dna/606/A16850946
Complain about this postThink you are not gonaa make it to either the Ashes or the world cup squad. Accept it, there are better guys out there.
/dna/606/A16850946
Complain about this postHey Liam,
Considering it's been a problem for the last few weeks/months, do you prefer bowling with the red / white kookaburra? And does it feel different to you/as different as it must for Harmison?
Chris.
Complain about this post