Plunkett backs Lyth to ‘step up and do well’

Cricket365
April 9, 2015

England fast bowler Liam Plunkett has full confidence in fellow Yorkshire player Adam Lyth to make a good impression with England, after the uncapped batsman was called up for the tour to the West Indies.

Lyth was in superb form for the Leeds side a the end of the county season, scoring a double ton against Lancashire and then a ton against Notts in the penultimate game. He has also been racking up the runs for England Lions in the UAE this year.

Plunkett, also recalled to the Test side after missing out through injury, is sure Lyth will be able to transfer that form into the England set-up should he be given his first Test cap in the Caribbean.

Plunkett said on the ECB website: "In the two years I've been here (at Yorkshire) and having played against him before, and with the Lions, he seems to know his game now.

"He’s class to watch, he looks elegant when you're watching him bat and obviously it is deserved and if he gets his chance I'm sure he'll step up and do well for England."

Yorkshire have a number of players in the squad, aside from Lyth and Plunkett, and the paceman feels it's a huge credit to the club and to head coach, former Australia paceman Jason Gillespie.

He added: "It’s a huge honour. It’s fully deserved, obviously Adil Rashid, Adam Lyth, Jonny B (Bairstow) and the two that are there now, Rooty (Joe Root) and Gaz (Gary Ballance), but it’s a shame for Yorkshire because you'll lose a lot of players but it’s huge for the club.

"It’s good to have people out there that you work with, you know how they like to play, how they prepare and its always good for people like Lythy and Rash who have just come in like I did last summer."

Plunkett came back to the England side after a few years on the sidelines, having fallen out of favour after a very young start, but now he feels he's in full control, and is pleased he made the move from Chester-le-Street.

Plunkett said: "When I first played for England obviously I was with Durham but I was just at a place where I was a little bit stale through my own fault and I just needed a little bit of change just like any other job.

"In the first net session (at Yorkshire) I bowled and hit the side netting, but Dizzy just said ‘there’s no stress about it, it's November, we want you to play here because when we spoke to you initially you said you wanted to play for England and that’s what I wanted to do.

"Dizzy was great; he gave me the freedom and aim to bowl quick and that’s opened options up for me."