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    International Preview: Plunkett ready for Ireland clash

    4 May 2017

    The 32-year-old pace bowler feels he has found confidence and consistency ahead of 50th ODI cap.

    Liam Plunkett admits he feared he would never reach 50 England ODI caps and says now is the "best time" of his career as he prepares to celebrate the milestone against Ireland on Friday.

    The 32-year-old is set to make his 50th appearance at the Brightside Ground in Bristol as the Three Lions prepare for a hectic one-day summer with the two-match Royal London ODI series against Ireland.

    Plunkett made his England debut against Pakistan in Lahore at the age of 20 in 2005 but spent several years out of the frame as he made just two ODI appearances between July 2007 and June 2015.

    He believes a combination of hard work, a change of counties – he joined Yorkshire from Durham in 2012 – and a fresh attitude helped lay the foundations for his international revival.

    “I’m absolutely over the moon,” Plunkett told ecb.co.uk. “I thought at one point that I wasn’t going to get it when I was in and out of the team, but the last year or so I’ve been part of the squad and I’ve enjoyed it.

    “It’s been the best time of my career in terms of cricket. To play in that and receive the 50th cap, I will be happy. I feel like I’ve put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes and it’s come to this.

    England’s ODI captain, Eoin Morgan, believes Plunkett was the team’s most impressive bowler during the 3-0 series whitewash of the West Indies in March.

    Plunkett goes into his 50th cap in confident mood and wants England to put their “foot on the throttle” when they face Ireland on Friday ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy this summer.

    “We just need to keep performing. The lads are back together in different conditions after the Caribbean. It’s good to tap in to people who have been to the IPL to learn different stuff,” Plunkett added.

    “I’m sure Morgs and Trevor [Bayliss] just want to see improvement, more consistency and for us to put our foot on the throttle in winning situations.

    “You have to respect who you play. Ireland have a good squad and have played a lot together. We need to come out all guns blazing.

    “Hopefully the wicket will have a bit of nip but it’s the same everywhere you go now in one-day cricket. They are good wickets, you need to bowl your tight lines otherwise you will be punished. That’s what I will be looking to do tomorrow, it the same areas that I’ve been hitting.”

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