Plunkett feels settled after good return

Cricket365
July 3, 2014

England fast bowler Liam Plunkett says he finally feels settled in the national side, after coming back to the team following a seven-year gap and performing superbly in the two Tests against Sri Lanka.

Plunkett made his debut in 2005 and went on to play just nine Tests before being dropped in 2007, and he had to wait until the age of 29 for another chance, after shining for Yorkshire and bowling at 150kp/h.

Against Sri Lanka, he took nine wickets in the second Test and 11 in total and while England lost the series, Plunkett made a good enough impression to be included in the squad to face India this month.

Plunkett told the ECB's official website on Thursday: "It was nice to prove to people I could perform at Test level and take some valuable wickets.

"It's given me some confidence and (taken) a bit of pressure off and hopefully I can just continue now and enjoy the cricket that's ahead."

When asked why he felt his 'second debut' had gone so well, he said that he was in a better head space than seven years ago, when he was barely out of his teens and not as confident in his own skills.

He added: "I think I've just grown and matured a lot as a player. I think when you're younger maybe things come natural and you take things for granted.

"I've learnt a lot the last four, five years. I've taken that on board and I just feel I'm more consistent as a cricketer and at this moment in time I just want the ball in my hand, bat in my hand, (I'm) just enjoy(ing) the game again."