Plunkett will try to discuss with England coach Trevor Bayliss when the tour of the UAE finishes next week © Getty Images
To find of reasons why Liam Plunkett did not make it to the squad for the series in South Africa, he will have a discussion with England coach Trevor Bayliss when the tour of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) finishes next week. Plunkett name being excluded from the names for the four-Test series in South Africa, which starts on Boxing Day in Durban was not expected and was dismissed in favour of Chris Jordan despite Chris Woakes and Mark Footitt having been in the team for the series against Pakistan. He was very close to be included in the final Test in Sharjah, before England selected a third spin-bowling all-rounder in Samit Patel. reported by espncricinfo.com READ: Trevor Bayliss praises England’s impressive progress
His subsequent removal has left him to think about, what he has to do to get back in the Test team. Plunkett said after he became the Man-of-the-Match finishing with figures of 3 for 33 in the second T20I in Dubai, “I’m gutted I’m not going. I’ll try and catch the coach later on and speak to him to see what I can do to get back amongst the Test squad. I was obviously disappointed but you just have to move forward. In the middle of the one-dayers, I was going to leave it and have a catch up with him to see what went on, see what I did wrong or what I need to improve.” READ: England were not quite good enough against Pakistan in Test series says Trevor Bayliss
But he has proved some clever and indirect methods to achieve, which came to the fore in the second T20I, having seen Mohammad Hafeez flick a short delivery to the boundary, he bowled the next ball up and produced a successful edge which found mid-off.
“To say I’m fresh is an understatement,” he said. “I’ve been here for seven or eight weeks now, I feel like I’ve worked hard on my game and on fitness and I feel I’m in good nick. I’ve bowled plenty of overs in the nets. I didn’t think I’d get a run out in this form of the game but I wanted to take my chance and I felt good. It was nice to run in, bowl quick and get a few wickets.”
Before returning linking back up with Yorkshire in the new year and with him being rested for the Tests squad in South Africa, Plunkett will go to the USA for a vacation.