One of the pivotal members of the 2019 World-Cup winning squad, Liam Plunkett, received a major jolt, after being left out from the 55-member England unit set to resume training, following COVID-19 break.
Plunkett was instrumental in England’s journey from the disastrous 2015 World Cup campaign in Australia to becoming world-beaters in ODI cricket.
The medium-pacer had the most impressive strike rate amongst all fast bowlers during the middle-overs, due to his tendency to provide breakthroughs with his variations.
However, former England captain, Michael Vaughan has lambasted England team management for their lack of communication regarding the axing of the Durham bowler.
Apparently, Plunkett did not receive any intimation regarding his omission from the list of players set to resume training and only got to know via Twitter. Vaughan used words such as ‘disgrace’ to describe the situation.
“Do you know what, Phil? The most disappointing thing that I heard in that interview was that after the World Cup final, he won England a World Cup with a group of players and management, and not one person rang him up. Not one person,” Vaughan told Phil Tufnel during a BBC podcast.
“He had to find that (news of omission) out through Twitter. I’m sorry, that’s back in your day, Phil. That doesn’t happen in this era of cricket, that’s a disgrace,” added Vaughan.
In the 89 ODI games he has represented England, thus far, Plunkett has 135 scalps to his name at an impressive strike rate of 30.6.
Having married to American national Emeleah Erb, the 35-year-old is now eying a place in the USA cricket team.
“It would be nice to be involved in some sort of cricket over there. My kids might be American, so it would be quite cool to say to them that I played for England and the US,” Plunkett said on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuffers and Vaughan Show.
“I’m English, and I’ll always be an Englishman, but if I’m still fit and there’s an opportunity to play at the highest level, why would I not take it?” added the Yorkshireman.
However, the condition stipulates that Plunkett must have a minimum residency period in the States for three years to represent USA’s cricket team.
“If I go over there and end up being a US citizen, or have a green card, I can help the development, especially being someone who has just finished with England. It would be nice to get involved in that,” Plunkett concluded.
