Plunkett feels right at home with England

Cricket365
June 21, 2014

England fast bowler Liam Plunkett was delighted to claim his maiden Test five-fer on day one at Headingley, saying he felt part of the side from the moment he arrived at the nets before the first Test at Lord's.

That Test was Plunkett's first since 2007, when he played nine matches and was then dropped. But he was recalled after some blinding domestic form, and came good in leads, taking five wickets for 64 runs.

Plunkett said on <i>Sky Sports</i> after day one's play: "As soon as I played last week I felt part of it again, from the first net session.

"This was more for me, I wanted to perform at Test level and picking up five feels like I've done that.

"I feel like it's just the start. I feel confident and when you're a bit younger maybe you don't. I backed myself."

Meanwhile, fellow paceman Stuart Broad became the first English player to take two Test hat-tricks, though he didn't realise it at the time.

Because one wicket was taken off the last ball of one over, and then Plunkett took a wicket in between, Broad and even the commentators didn't realise the next two wickets made up the milestone.

Broad, who heard the stadium announcer mention it and then shrugged his shoulders, said of his surprising achievement: "I had no idea.

"I was listening to the guy that came on the tannoy there and I was thinking 'why is he mentioning the last ball of the over before?', and it clicked that that might be a hat-trick."

When asked who had the innings ball, Plunkett said: "I've got it but I'll cut a bit of the seam off for Stuart. I didn't ask him, I just took it to be fair.

"He chucked me the ball when the announcement came so he's given me the ball, or I think he has anyway."