SEVEN STEPS TO HEAVEN

Plunkett claims England can go on winning streak all the way to Champions Trophy

LIAM PLUNKETT reckons England are ready to go on another winning streak like last summer’s in order to make one-day international history.

From the moment Plunkett connected with a mighty six to tie the opening game against Sri Lanka, England went unbeaten until September, delivering seven wins in the process. They have started this summer well enough with a thumping win against South Africa, and if they were to win their next seven games they would be holding aloft the Champions Trophy at the Oval to secure a maiden win in a global limited-overs tournament. And Plunkett is in no doubt that is achievable. “Absolutely we can win the next seven,” said the 32-year-old. “There is no point turning up if you don’t think you can win. “Last year against Pakistan and Sri Lanka we won seven on the bounce and were unbeaten in nine. “It was a great win for us the other day against good players who can damage you all the time, so if you’re not improving and taking something away from the game then you’re going to stand still. “So I’m absolutely confident we can go on and keep winning. It’s about the team and with the Champions Trophy coming up it would be absolutely amazing to win a big tournament and in England. I think we’ve a massive chance with this squad.” Plunkett is a big part of why England should feel so confident, playing in 18 of their last 22 matches and delivering 32 wickets. He rarely grabs headlines, taking 12 years to get to 50 ODI caps, but he has become increasingly effective with good pace and a well-disguised slower ball. That is how he has managed to get past his hero Steve Harmison on the alltime list, and his ambition of taking 100 wickets should be well within his grasp. He added: “I’ve played long enough where I’ve been in and out of the side, but I feel like in the last year or so I’ve been one of the better bowlers and one of the most consistent in the team. “It is nice to hear people consider you to be an established member of the team, and I feel like I deserve to be in the side as a bowler. I feel I’ve performed home and away for the last year or so, but it is fickle. “Every time you play and pick up wickets it’s a great feeling and I’m more confident in myself as a bowler. I look at the stats and I’d love to get to 100 ODI wickets.”