DIZZY INSPIRED MY ENGLAND COMEBACK ...WE’LL MISS HIM
Plunkett hails departing Tykes coach Gillespie
LIAM PLUNKETT has credited departing Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie with revitalising his career and giving him another crack with England.
Plunkett has become a mainstay of England’s whiteball revolution over the past six months taking a central role in their progress to the World T20 final and their undefeated one-day run this summer.
And he has hailed the part played by ‘Dizzy’ Gillespie who will leave Yorkshire at the end of the season to head back to Australia with his family, but not without making a considerably positive mark on English cricket.
“I’m obviously gutted he’s leaving because he was good for me, and good for the team,” said Plunkett, who made his England debut in 2005.
“It’s a tough decision that he’s made. But I want to thank him for taking a chance on me to come to Yorkshire. He’s been nothing but positive to me and he’s brought me back to playing for England. One of reasons I moved to Yorkshire is that he was a bowler himself and went through his ups and downs.
“One of the first net sessions I had with him was in the winter and I hit the side-netting. I thought that was the end of my career at Yorkshire but he said, ‘Don’t worry about it, it’s November.’ I take my hat off to him, I owe him quite a bit.”
Plunkett is not the only one and the White Rose county will aim to send Dizzy on his way with a third successive Championship title before working out who will replace him. The leading candidates are (pictured left from top) Richard Dawson, Chris Silverwood and Paul Farbrace. As the most experienced bowler in England’s one-day set-up at 31, Plunkett rates this current side as the best he’s been involved with. They should wrap up the series against a poor Pakistan side in Nottingham with the same team that has won the first two games, and then thoughts will turn to Bangladesh and whether to tour. “We had individuals in the past but I feel this is the best team,” added Plunkett.
“From New Zealand last year we have gone from strength to strength and we want to win this series 5-0. I like the responsibility I’ve got, I feel comfortable in myself and playing for England. I am more consistent now and back myself to take wickets.
“I’ll think about Bangladesh after the series, I’ve not been picked yet. There is trouble everywhere in the world.”