 Plunkett helped Durham win a second successive championship title |
Durham all-rounder Liam Plunkett is determined to make the most of his second chance after being named in the England Test squad for South Africa. Plunkett, 24, last played for England in 2007, but 400 runs at an average of 44.44 and 49 wickets this year for the County champions earned him a recall. "I've matured as a cricketer since the last time I played," he told BBC Sport. "After the Ashes win, I'm going over there knowing I might not get a game, so I'm prepared to fight for my place." Plunkett readily admits he was as surprised as anyone to be picked in the 16-man Test squad. "I wasn't expecting the call, so I'm chuffed," he said. "My ambition now is to stay in the England team and not be in and out of it.  | 606: DEBATE |
"Supposedly the easiest thing is to get in the England side, it's how you stay there that's the hardest bit." Plunkett will go to South Africa on 15 November with the second-string Lions squad and meet up with the Test squad when it travels out three weeks later. "I'm the kind of bowler who needs to bowl plenty of overs in games to get the best out of me," he continued. "I've got to play club cricket or during the week with the Lions and get plenty of bowling under my belt before I meet up with them (England). "Looking to the future, I hope to be part of the next Ashes squad. "I suppose that's what the selectors are doing with this squad selection because Steve Harmison's already said he's not going. "They're looking to the future, picking Adil Rashid and Luke Wright in the squad." Plunkett made his Test debut in late 2005 against Pakistan in Lahore, scoring nine runs and taking 2-125 as England were crushed by an innings and 100 runs. His last match was in a 60-run victory over the West Indies in the summer of 2007. In nine Test matches to date, Plunkett has scored 126 runs, with a top score of 44, and taken 23 wickets at an average of 39.82.
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