Plunkett rips into batsmen

Jul 1 2009 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

IT is hard to believe that, this time last week, Liam Plunkett was facing up to the very real possibility his season was over because of a mystery injury.

An innocuous groin strain had turned into a serious problem for the Teessider and was baffling the experts, who warned that surgery and a lengthy recuperation period were needed.

A little more than seven days later, however, and Plunkett is back in the Durham side and ripping through Worcestershire’s batting in a manner which made light of the loss of Stephen Harmison and Graham Onions to the England Lions.

Plunkett’s early-season displays, as well as the whispers from inside the Durham set-up, had suggested the fast bowler was starting rediscover his best form – and more importantly the self-belief – which first earned him a place in the England team four years ago. This performance added plenty of weight to that argument.

Launched into the international arena as a raw 20-year-old, Plunkett has had problems on and off the pitch ever since, although it has been injuries and a loss of confidence which has done the major damage.