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...
My bowling clicked against New Zealand. I felt as though I had been bowling well in the nets and it was great to transfer that into a match situation. I went for a few runs (54) but picked up three wickets.
To make runs at the end of a game is always important and against New Zealand I was 25 not out. For me to do that on a consistent basis will be good for the team and it’s something I will continue to work on. I’ve been given a chance because of injuries to other players and I’m determined to take it.
I was in a similar position in the summer when an injury ruled me out and I tumbled down the pecking order but now I’m back in the team, I want to stay there. I don’t think I’ve done enough yet to guarantee a place in the final squad of 15 players, but hopefully good performances against Australia on Friday and New Zealand on Tuesday will stand me in good stead.
I certainly won’t be thinking of the upcoming World Cup when I’m bowling but to be honest every time you play against Australia it is like playing in a World Cup final. We go into every game believing we can win and Friday will be no different. Things have not gone our way this series but on our day we can beat anyone so why not start against Australia in Sydney?
Although this has been a long tour for a lot of the players, I still feel fresh as I’ve not played a lot of cricket, so from my point of view, I don’t want it to end. Australia has been a great learning experience for me, watching the likes of Glenn McGrath and trying to bring parts of his game into mine.
Although the scorelines have suggested Australia are a million miles ahead of England, I honestly don’t think we are as poor as people have been saying. If we keep working hard, the results will come.
I’ve missed having a Sunday dinner back at home near Middlesbrough and of course my family but my mum and dad were over here for Christmas and New Year and my girlfriend Lisa had a good holiday too so I’m certainly not complaining.
I’m looking forward though to seeing my nieces Sophie and Katie who were born just before I flew out to Australia three months ago.
They were born premature and spent quite a while in hospital but they are now at home - my sister Natalie certainly has her hands full with twins as well as a toddler called Charlie!
Those of you who have read my columns will know that I’m a bit of a film buff so it will come as no surprise to hear that I and Ian Bell set up a cinema club while we have been out here.
Whenever we get a bit of spare time we basically go to the local cinema wherever we are playing, drag a few other players along with us, and watch whatever is on offer.
Since being in Australia I’ve managed to see all the latest films like Casino Royale, and Deja Vu – it is just a great way to relax and think about something else other than cricket for a few hours.
This is my last blog for the time being so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for reading them and sending me lots of comments and questions.
Great columns liam! Well done for getting back in the team and hopefully a good world cup will see you regain your place in the test team as well as odi's. Good luck
Complain about this postWish I had time to watch all the latest films!! Sadly, I only get paid if I do some work....
Seriously though, best of luck Liam with your bowling and batting - your knock the other day was a good one. But don't forget to work on your fielding!!!!
Complain about this postI am glad you have been enjoying yourself Liam - because I certainly havent. I have just got back to Blighty having spent quite a few quid going to Oz and suffering the spinless one day dross England have churned out in Melbourne and Adelaide (as well as the torment of watching the rest of the CB series in bars) - and with the exception of Monty, Jimmy and perhaps Ed Joyce who have at least looked bothered and been working on their games its been scandalously unenjoyable. Being berated for hours on end by Australians is not a fun experience (even if they ahve just one song, sometimes not even that) and the attitude of the management and the near disdain in which they seem to treat the supporters and legions of fans who have 'bothered' to pay good money to sit through this muck is appalling. Freddie may well tell me that you lot are hurting and the dressing room is still confident, but with the aforementioned exceptions you are doing a pretty successful job of hiding it. The fielding has been woefully inept, (Tremlett is a disgrace, I dont care if you are not a natural fielder, Monty tries his heart out - but to not look like you care is quite different) and we have failed in pretty much every other discipline. I wish the team all the best and will be rooting for them as always, but the time for gentle encouragement has gone. Its been abysmal and a change in attitude at the very least, (incl. after the game) if not results is required before we are humiliated further at the World Cup next month. Show us you care for goodness sake.
Complain about this postLiam,
When your a sportsman you get judged on results, for which there has only been 1 since you arrived in Australia back in early November.
I could understand your comment about not being as bad as the team is being made out if England had won more than 1 game since arriving and even that was with 2 balls to spare!
Half the problem is that you guys can't accept how poor you have been , perhaps if you did, You might start to move forward!
Complain about this postgreat performance agaisnt new zewland seeing as it was only your second competitive game on tour, best of luck agaisnt aussies, definitely better tham mahmood and tremlett you should get a world cup spot.
Complain about this postDear Liam Plunkett :
I have been following the England series in Australia and like most people - have been disappointed with the results.
Right now the England team is caught in a loop and they need to get out of it very quickly. All it takes is a solid determination from all of you and you should be OK.
I enjoy reading your blogs and I hope you have a successive outing the Australians this coming Friday.
Best of luck to you.
Complain about this postI don't care if people are getting happy with you Liam but the team are an absolute embarrassment to the country.
People aren't saying true things because your here, but I'm going to tell you straight that the performances of every member of the team apart from Panesar, Joyce and Anderson have been a disgrace to the country.
The fielding is inept and an embarrassment. You all look lost with the bat. The bowling is a joke.
Show some pride for your country tonight. Comments like "I'm not complaining" just about sum it all up.
Complain about this postHey liam,
Complain about this postDon't wanna be rude but do you feel that Australia have played brilliantly all series or was it luck coupled with some sloppy displays,
(No i aint considering commitment.).
Anyway Good luck.
Come on....after watching the poms play....I can only say that the aussies are a million mile away...
Complain about this postBut Liam you don't seem to think that and feel you can turn around things. You also say that things haven't gone your way.
I'm sorry but injuries are part of the game. The Aussies, Indians, Pakistanis have a wealth of talent to bank on when someone gets injured. But in England there isn't that wealth. Monty is a jewel but that's all.
All the best but I don't expect miracles. Make me eat my words in the next two games and the WC!
Hey liam,
Complain about this postDon't wanna be rude but do you feel that Australia have played brilliantly all series or was it luck coupled with some sloppy displays,
(No i aint considering commitment.).
Anyway Good luck.
Well done on getting back in the side Liam, the way things are going I was expecting a call up myself but well done anyway. I thought you bowled a bit better against NZ and your pace was up there which was good to see. I assume it is rustiness but what were you doing bowling on Pontings legs!! In the 11 years that he's been playing have you guys not figured out that he is pretty good in that area? Nice to see you and Nixon get a few runs although Matt Prior is twice the player he is
Complain about this postCome on....after watching the poms play....I can only say that the aussies are a million mile away...
Complain about this postBut Liam you don't seem to think that and feel you can turn around things. You also say that things haven't gone your way.
I'm sorry but injuries are part of the game. The Aussies, Indians, Pakistanis have a wealth of talent to bank on when someone gets injured. But in England there isn't that wealth. Monty is a jewel but that's all.
All the best but I don't expect miracles. Make me eat my words in the next two games and the WC!
Well done on getting back in the side Liam, the way things are going I was expecting a call up myself but well done anyway. I thought you bowled a bit better against NZ and your pace was up there which was good to see. I assume it is rustiness but what were you doing bowling on Pontings legs!! In the 11 years that he's been playing have you guys not figured out that he is pretty good in that area? Nice to see you and Nixon get a few runs although Matt Prior is twice the player he is
Complain about this postYou live in a dream liam.
Complain about this postLiam,
Complain about this postplease tell Freddy to stop coming out with the same rubbish every time England are humiliated. He is getting very boring. Time to stop words like 'working hard' and replacing them with 'winning hard'
Good luck for the future, I hope you stop the rot.
just wanted to say i woulkd have liked to have seen you play against the aussies in the ashes.
i thought you were unlucky to loose your place last year and think you jimmy stuart broad and monty of course could welll lead the attack in years to come
all the best
Complain about this postmike
well helllllllllllllllllo
Complain about this postjust to add to most of the other comments, we are all pretty much feed up to the back teeth with it all, you must go into the nets and practice so how come you cant bowl 4 balls an over at or about the off stump ( notice i would,nt expect any english bowler to bowl 6 an over, heaven forbid ), so what do you do all the time?, just be happy with poor results. time to get a grip and sweat blood for the team, come on give us something to be proud off
The thing about writing a blog is, you should know what to write judging the time and context. Its nice to know cricketers are manging to find time to relax. No problem with that. The only thing is, if you tell about it to public when the team is not doing well, they are not amused.
Complain about this posthey Liam, don't listen to these negaive comments, well done in your two games thus far. I reckon your a legend and the future of english seam bowling along with stuart broad.
Complain about this postLiam,
Nice to know you're enjoying yourself. Make sure you get a nice tan and lots of shrimp from the barbie. I look forward to your next article - do keep us updated after we beat Canada in the Carribean, or am I a hopeless optimist?
Complain about this postliam,
i think your cricket has been absolutely wonderful in australia, in the games you've played. I wonder when the selectors will finally notice your blatant talent. Hopefully it'll be soon and you'll permanently be on the England team. The best of luck for the future. You're blogs have been brilliant as well and i've enjoyed reading them. it's a shame you have to stop.
Mariam
Complain about this postOooooo Liam Liam
your a future star
liam liam
get a grip!
Complain about this post"Things have not gone our way this series but on our day we can beat anyone so why not start against Australia in Sydney?"
Ermmmmmm Yeh. Great plan Liam. In future series, why not try starting in the first match though eh? Would have been a bit better at Canberra wouldn't it?
I'm glad that your enjoying yourself on holiday, and its a big comfort to us that are getting up at 3am to watch you get embarrassed once again.
Complain about this postEven though the cricket has been atrocious and the results have been woeful, I have enjoyed reading your blogs and wish you all the best in the future. By the way, you should be in the world cup team, seeing as all the rest have done absolutely nothing over the past 3 months! (monty and KP excluded of course)
Complain about this postGood luck tonight and beat the aussies for once and for us!
Having been forced to suffer the abysmal england effort this winter, I fell your comments sum up the current problem with England Liam.
You say "It has been great to finally get a chance to play in Australia - although understandably I was a little bit nervous".
Firstly, it really isn't for you to jusdge whether it is "understandable" that you were nervous.
Secondly, it betrays the limited ambition and confidence of our players when they confess such a thing and attempt to justify it in the same sentence. I would have thought you would be straining at the leach for a crack at the Aussies having not played all tour.
I am a massive supporter of English Cricket - I barely miss a ball, let alone a match - but I've had enough. We need to sort out this soft-touch, loser mentality.
Rant over
Complain about this postthe blog was ok. but i hope you dont mind if i point out some faults in your bowling. you got a good run up and therefore you can add some more miles in to your bowling if you want.
1. The basic problem with you is that you are open chested and hence you find it hard to control your deliveries going down the leg side.
2. At the point of delivery when you land on your front foot, your landing is very soft. Your front left leg should be bracing to take whole of the weight of your body with straigth knee. But in your case your left leg doesnt brace as hard and therefore your left knee bends. thats where you loose your pace and extra bounce. just try to watch Brett Lee in side on slow motion. And then try to compare yourself with him. You will notice that how hard he lands on his front left leg and also his left knee is straigth all the time. thats where he gets his pace.
3. If you can, then try to turn side on in your delivery stride. That will give you more control and swing in your bowling. Also getting side on will help you stop bowling leg side wides.
4. How to get side on, well to do that you need to look behind your left leading arm at the time of the delivery stride. Again try to see and observe the replays of bowlers like Lee, Shoaib or waqar younis. These are the bowlers who got perfect actions to get into side on position.
these are few minor adjustment but very important.
Complain about this posthey jack, just you wait and see Liam take all the wickets then you will be eating your words.
Complain about this postp.s liam's a legend don't cha know, innit!!!! come on England
Critical comments about England's performance in Australia are, of course, to be expected after such a depressing series of results. However:
katey (message 2), boykes (message 3), swap (message 18), roy (message 20) - Liam talks about watching films and his family because we asked him to give us a bit of behind the scenes flavour in his blogs.
carl (message 14) - if the players don't think, or at least talk, positively, there's no point in them playing the next two games. The number of professional sportsmen who are going to say openly "We've got no chance" are few and far between.
jack (message 23) - it hardly seems fair to blame Liam for England's failings in the early part of the tour. Apart from the last two CB Series games, he's only had one other opportunity and that was for an England XI containing the likes of Alec Stewart and Adam Hollioake, so the cricket was hardly competitive.
Complain about this postshahid shah, do you not think there are perhaps, bowling coaches!! out there in OZ to look at Plunketts bowling action not to mention team mates giving advice when needed? so I doubt very much he will be reading, or taking your advice on board. this may sound rude but so were you.
Can't believe amount of neagtive posts, okay england have been below par but plunketts only played 2 matches on tour and did well in the last one.
All the best of rest of one dayers Liam. Shame bout Jimmy Andersons injury, a big miss.
Complain about this postDear Liam, You may not think England are as bad as people think but the results say otherwise. You guys are about as a bad an England team as any I have seen in the 40 odd years I have been watching.
Its hard to imagine any of the Aussie first team expressing enjoyment at a nine wicket defeat. Maybe that is the difference.
You and your colleagues should be worried about the shame you have brought in English Cricket by your limp wristed performances, which is all we care about, not your Sunday dinner and your amateur interest in films.
Complain about this postPaul Grunill - ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sport, spot on sir. Liam's blogs have given us a good insight into life on tour and he should be saluted for his efforts.
Complain about this postMaybe Ian Bell should give his cinema pass to someone else and get into the nets to practice.
I'm sorry - but he's not here to watch movies. He's here to play cricket, and quite frankly I am yet to see him or any of his team matex (with very few exceptions) do so competitively since you all arrived.
Sure you need time off and a rest etc, but I am sorry - they havem't done anything yet to deserve a rest. Even during the Ashes series they were off seeing U2 and Kylie and Elton in concert.... It's all really nice having a holiday in Australia...
When are these guys going to turn up to a cricket match and play well?!!!
Mr Grunill of ´óÏó´«Ã½ SPORT, considering the current state of England's losing streak, if you are concerned about what bloggers write in response to Liam Plunkett (or any other England cricketer's blog), perhaps the Eng cricketers should stop writing team until the team start playing properly?!!!
You cannot seriously expect the cricket fans who write in to these forums religiously, not to voice their opinions when a member of the cricket team writes a column talking about going to the movies and having a great holiday with his parents and girlfriend. You may have asked him to write more of a behind the scenes type theme for his blog, but you are courting controversy.
Call me crazy, but I thought that the England team were here to play COMPETITIVE cricket - that means at least to look like they are here to PLAY, win, lose or draw....
Of course, bloggers will write something in reply and try to pass on the fan's disapproval of England's performances this summer!!! What did you expect after the abysmal cricket that England have played since they arrived 3 months ago?!!!!!
Until 2 matches ago, Liam Plunkett was sitting in the pavillion - we all know that. But the first match he participated in was the worst loss of the One Day Series so far.
This wasn't his fault of course, but it wasn't even that the England team lost - it was the WAY they lost!!! I think that that is what the fans have issues with the most.
Plunkett played quite well - no doubt about that. But it is time to face facts that they are ALL accountable. Any chance that fans have to voice their opinions directly to one of the players, after being given the opportunity through this website, should not be questioned.
Liam wrote the blog - the ´óÏó´«Ã½ published it - so....
Complain about this postCome on guys England aren't as bad as everyone is making out. They're worse!
Complain about this post"Since being in Australia I’ve managed to see all the latest films like Casino Royale, Blood Diamond and Deja Vu – it is just a great way to relax and think about something else other than cricket for a few hours."
I thought England managed to think about something else other than cricket for a few hours every time they walk out into the middle........
Complain about this postgreat blog liam.just wondered what advice you have for me on how to become a fast bowler like yourself..i bowl about 80mph but would like some tips on how to add another 5 mph to my bowling..just wondered why they call you pudsey bear?thank you.alex
Complain about this postLiam,
It was good to see you get your chance and I felt you bowled reasonably well, but oh those wides etc. Any explanations? I know your pace is up so are you trying too hard. take my advice and relax I'm sure you don't that many wides at Durham, don't put too much pressure on yourself.
I'll be backing you in a few hours to have a good game. Good luck.
Alan Brown
Complain about this post95% of comments on here are so STUPID. Yes Liam has seen some films during his time in Australia, so what!, surprising as it may seem you can't train 24 hours a day in the nets, like any job you do have periods of hours for sleep and relaxtion, some comments are so daft. slate me if you want but its true.
Complain about this postWith the greatest respect Liam (and let's be honest you're hardly to blame for England's poor performance across the whole tour), but I could never imagine an Australian cricketer writing a blog such as this, even if the roles were reversed. Stop accepting mediocrity, stop making excuses and start performing!
Complain about this postReally good to hear of your experiences. in cricket you will always have good and bad days and all this talk about humiliation is of course rubbish. If fans cant take a loss then they shouldnt be fans. The UK is set up as a cultural nation first , a sports nation second and we salute you and the team's efforts in trying your best away from home. I'm sure most of you would have preferred to be at home over Chrismas. Good luck in the last 2 games and try your best in the World Cup!!
Complain about this postNATHAN TYSON:
I understand the point you made in your blog - but also please understand that a column written like this will get people's backs up especially considering that England have only won 1 match (and narrowly too) since they arrived in September in either form of the game.
We all know that they have to rest and sleep etc - just like any job. But I don't get paid loads to tour the world playing international cricket for my country either.... If normal folks in normal jobs were turning in the equivalent of the same kind of results ie: not doing our jobs properly and not performing up to standard- we would be fired for it- and quite rightly so!
It just seems like their minds aren't really on the job that they are here to do.....
This is what I think some people are trying to express in these blogs.
What's so 'stupid' about that?!
Of course they can't train 24 hours a day, but perhaps it would be too much to ask that when they ARE training, they improve just a little bit so it is evident in their next game?
Otherwise, train harder!
Liam can go to the movies if he wants... But maybe he should leave TinkerBell etc at home to get a proper rest.
There are claims that some Eng players are exhausted from a full year of cricket which is resulting in their poor form.
It seems to be the case for all the top level countries - Australia, India, Sri Lanka, W.I. South Africa, New Zealand etc - they ALL have had a full playing/touring schedule. It's the same for EVERY team, so I feel that this excuse isn't relevant for England's current slump. It's their attitude.
I am an avid cricket fan and have been desperate for England to show some of the 2005 fight that made that Ashes and ODI series so exciting to watch. That was a FANTASTIC summer of cricket and it did a huge amount for both teams and for the game itself.
England's performance this summer, in turn has undone all of that. It's been nothing short of pathetic - as I said in my earlier comment - not because they have lost games but the WAY they have lost them.
Is it too much to ask that England play with a bit of pride, heart and God forbid - talent?
Maybe they will prove themselves today against Australia- but even if they do, it is still a shame that they are leaving it all too late.
The fans of cricket - and supporters of BOTH teams - are disappointed and we have EVERY right to be.
Complain about this postLiam
I live over in the land of the convicts and have been here for a while. I basked in the glory of our 2005 ashes victory and handed out a fair bit of propoganda to the ozzies out here prior to the ashes series. I wish i hadn't though! We have been abysmal to say the least.
I am not a big fan of one dayers, more of a purist to tell you the truth, but surely we can do better than we have been in the shorter form. We have 30 million people to choose from compared to around 12.5 million for the ozzies and around 2 million for the new zealanders and we still can't produce someone who actually hits the ball. Please tell Nixon to stop with his 3 reverse sweeps per over and continue hitting it like you and he did in the last match.
seriously though, the team is not "that bad", but you have been playing "that bad", however i will never be embarrassed to be an englishman. Anyone who says they are should be ashamed of themselves.
Good luck today and hopefully you'll give me something with which to berate my australian chums. I will be there making myself hoarse abusing all and sundry, chanting barmy army as if my life depends on it.
Finally, at the death, pitch it up. don't bowl length. easier said than done i know but you can do it. and i want 100% effort in the field. surely you can give us that if nothing else.
Complain about this post"every time you play against Australia it is like playing in a World Cup final."
How would you know what it's like to play in a World Cup final? To be honest, I don't think you are ever going to find out either.
Complain about this postGood notes Liam.
I would like to see a bit more fire and determination, the whole england team seem too nice. I have lived in Aussieland now for nearly ten years and you don't hear them talking about Sunday Roasts and family stuff too often.
Wish you well, don't give the aussies an inch (just like Glenn M)
Peter
Complain about this postTalking of staking your claim for the World Cup, maybe Mal Loye might learn from Peiterson's experience and not try to do anything fancy against Glenn McGrath - or you'll end up in hospital and then perhaps on a plane home...
He was on his way back to the pavillion the next ball anyway....
Complain about this postIn response to the comment by Joachim Smith, of course Liam's going to be nervous playing in front of 35,000 fans at the Adelaide oval in his first game and 45,000 at the SCG tonight! I'm scared going there as a pom and I'm not even playing on the field! How about we put Joachim in front of a crowd of 45,000 at the SCG or maybe 100,000 at the MCG and see how he fairs!
Complain about this postBy the way, really enjoyed bowling at you and the other England lads at the SCG yesterday Liam, it was a great experience - thanks for putting up with my pies (and let Monty know, no hard feelings after I got him out). Make us proud this evening, we know you can do it...being a pom in Ozland is very hard!
Hey man,
Complain about this postIt is good that there are some players itching to play. This past tour has been a nightmare for the team and for the world on how good the aussies can be.
A fresh team might be the solution if u ask me, but anyways play hard and aggressive out there. Wishing u the BEST OF LUCK. beat the aussies...
I don't believe it!
Complain about this postHaving given up on waking up at the crack of dawn and nearly facing the sack to watch a bunch of inept ball watchers, it looks like they're finally firing.
The worrying thing is that the only other morning I missed was the Adelaide test when we had a good day.
Jeez, it's me, it's me, I'm the reason we've been so rubbish!!! Oh, a wicket... and another one... it really is me!!!
Dear plunkett
I saw you game in Australia you are a good player. and you can do it. but you must have consistency in you game chose one of the part of game bat or ball. not both of them and i think you are good with ball. ok dont watch movies in the cenima.but you must have to see vidios of other ballers like wasim akram of pakistan, Glenn McGrath of australia to learn more from them. atherwise you will have to watch dreams of world cup and cricket.
that is all from me
you should do the rest.
bye
Complain about this postubaidullah gulabyar
employee of the ministry of finance in afghanistan
if england win i'll fly out to kl and buy scantily clad a few damp glasses!
Complain about this postHoly c*#p!!!! Go England!!!
What a corker of a delivery Liam!
(And I'm an Aussie supporter!)
Complain about this post"thank you all for reading them and sending me lots of comments and questions"
It would be nice if you took the time to answer the questions, liam.
Nice bowl to get giily today. the 2 wides after it - not so nice. keep trying.
Complain about this post8am gmt and i'm thinking of getting a bottle on ice with a marmite and stilton toastie to celebrate with scantily clad.
Complain about this postgo Liam!, I want you to get about 4 wickets and Monty too, as you're both in my Dream Team(ACA Commonwelth bank comp. on here at the moment). You were in my team from the first, then I had to drop you when England failed to realise you were their best kept secret. Now you're back, please perform. But don't let Engalnd win, because I' m an Aussie and I need Hussey to do really well too.
Complain about this postBy the way, coud you tell Straussy to get on with making a score? I'm keeping faith with him at the expense of Bell, but he's for the big drop too, soon, if he doesn't get me the points - after all, being an aussie I want to win at all costs, even if it means sacrificing Strauss ( who should be captain, by the way. Do the England team realise that?)
Well played Liam lad, cracking ball to get Gilchrist today! Sure you'll cement a place in the World Cup side, but make sure you turn out for Durham a couple of times this season as England are pinching all our best players!
Complain about this postHearty congratulations Liam and a blow for the specialist.
Complain about this postLiam - Firstly-congratulations on your great efforts. By clean bowling Gilchrist, you crushed Australian dynamic momentum. Keep up the good work plus the determination which you displayed, you will be successful.
Secondly - England needs a new coach. Tom Moody
ought to be the choice. Team management - please take a note of this.
Complain about this postGood for you Liam. I didn't see the game but on checking the result this evening I saw your returns when bowling were excellent.
Complain about this postMaybe you and the boys can return home to the Isle of Wandsworth with your heads held at least an inch off your chest.
Pity is, for all the positives your team will take from tonight, its yet another example of Gilly's captaincy (like Fred's) in action. Both great cricketers in their own right (and to viewers from afar via the TV medium great blokes) and an enormous breath of fresh air in terms of world cricket. Long may they reign.
Yet like Headingly with Butcher coming out on top, the hard man (think Terry Randall) attitude and discipline that Punter or Tugger before him brought to the team was probably absent. I don't think Oz's batting would have capitualted in such fashion with Punter at the helm.
All in all, well done to you and your teamates. I'd like to see the Brits in the finals, as unlikely as that may prove, to rid the country of a few more Kiwis.
Well bowled today Lian, good to finally have a win over the Aussies. As a fellow Teessider its good to see you playing well. I spoke with you back in Sydney in November and hopes wer ehigh for the Ashes, but things didnt go our way, the pressure got to certain players. And the Aussies proved their class. Things will be hopefully different in 2009. I spent way too much money Down Under. Cheers
Complain about this postit is really fantastic to see u back in the england team i really like ur game it is really with determination and hard work i reallly loved ur bowling against australia on the 2/1/2007 it wonderfull to see gilchirist getting bowled of ur first bowl continue ur good work and i m sure you will be there with england team in world cup take care do well god bless cheers
Complain about this postGood luck mate-good to see you back in the team.
Complain about this postWell Done with your inclusion and wickets. It shows pitching the ball up in the right area and varying the pace can bamboozle the likes of Gilchrist.
Complain about this postWell done Liam and all the team, it's been a long time coming!
Complain about this postWas at the SCG and really enjoyed it, being a Pom in Oz, as higbinho said, is hard work at the moment,especially regarding cricket.
Hope the team can use this win and go on to the finals , and maybe the World Cup final as well!!!
I knew you'd come good with a couple of matches under your belt. Those other contributors who poured scorn on your abilities should now be eating dirt! Sarah, Ann, and myself are right behind you. Keep up the good work.
Complain about this postAs Bumble and Mikey said on Sky the other day, you haven't played cricket for months, you need to be playing.
Keeping our fingers crossed for World Cup.
Well done Liam, don't take any notice of the negative comments (unless it's constructive criticism) you are still very young, so keep up the hard work and i'm sure that you'll achieve a lot in world cricket. Go for it!!
Complain about this post"We lost the match by nine wickets but in a funny kind of way I enjoyed the experience."
And there we have in one sentence why this England team will NEVER be as good as the Aussies.
Can you imagine a single member of the Australian team coming out with that? Can you imagine them thinking it, never mind expressing the sentiment in public? That they "enjoyed" being thrashed in a game of cricket?
What a disgraceful attitude
Complain about this postHey Liam, it's been great to read your columns, they've given a really good insight into the life of the professional cricketer on tour, especially one as big as the Ashes. And I hope you'll be able to continue writing through the World Cup and the home internationals.
There is one thing I'd like to ask though, for the One Day Internationals, you all have music that comes on when you come on to bowl or in to bat. We know that Andrew Flintoff's is Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and Daniel Vettori's is Spinning Around by Kylie Minogue but I was wondering if you could tell us what some of the other players' are as I reckon yours is Blame it on the Boogie by The Jackson Five - am I right or nowhere near?
Complain about this postGood to see you in the side, and also good to see that you are enjoying it, although apparently thats not allowed...
Hopefully see you next week when you and lisa move in next door ;-) if you need a cup of sugar just give us a knock!
Complain about this postWhat a load of codswallop these excricket commentators talk, saying we've regained some pride, rubbish, okay we're going to win at the mickey mouse game but when it comes to 'cricket' we're garbage.
They had an open top bus parade from previous glories, should it be the stocks after this abysmal excuse for cricket from highly paid England players?
There again when you fill the team with so many different nationalities what can you really expect!
Complain about this posthi there, can anybody give a message to Liam Plunkett that I can give his father my kidney...
Complain about this posti am serious its not a joke
thanks
hemant
Maybe you needed this
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