England pace bowler Liam Plunkett has revealed he would consider playing for the United States in the future.

Plunkett has been absent from the England team since helping them win the 50-over World Cup for the first time last year.

The 35-year-old was also left out of the 55-man England squad recently asked to return to training following the coronavirus lockdown.

Read | No place for Hales or Plunkett as England name 55-man training group

Plunkett's wife is American and they are likely to settle in the United States, prompting him to consider changing his international allegiance if his England prospects do not improve.

"It would be nice be involved in some sort of cricket over there," Plunkett told the BBC.

"My kids might be American, so it would be quite cool to say to them that I played for England and the US."

The United States were given one-day international status in 2019, but Surrey star Plunkett would have to serve a three-year residency period in order to be eligible to play for the country.

Read | Global pandemic puts England axe into context for Plunkett

"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?" he said.

"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."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Ellis

Alex Hales and World Cup-winner Liam Plunkett were both left out of a mammoth 55-man England training group announced on Friday.

But 13 uncapped players were selected, as England look to stage a full Test and limited-overs programme against West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and Australia, despite the coronavirus delaying the start of their home season until at least July.

Among those recalled was David Willey, who lost his place in the one-day squad to Jofra Archer shortly before England won the World Cup for the first time last year.

Official squads will be named at a later date, with three Tests against the West Indies, set to be played behind closed doors at bio-secure venues, first up for England this season.

Read | No domestic cricket in England until August - ECB

The group will not train in one place, but with individual sessions across several county venues, that started with bowlers back in the nets last week, the only form of training allowed at present.

"It's really pleasing to be in a position to have players returning to training and a huge amount of work has been done by many to get us this far," said England and Wales Cricket Board performance director Mo Bobat, who helped England coach Chris Silverwood and the selectors compile the list.

"The pool of players will give selectors strong options when it comes to selecting squads across formats further down the line, as we move closer to our aim of playing international cricket this summer."

Nottinghamshire opener Hales was dropped shortly before last year's World Cup after it emerged he had tested positive for drugs.

Read | Hales deserves 'second chance', says Chris Woakes

There had been speculation that, with England likely to need separate red and white-ball squads, Hales might be recalled.

But England one-day captain Eoin Morgan dashed Hales' hopes on Wednesday when he said "it will take more time" for him to regain the trust of the squad.

Meanwhile, 35-year-old fast bowler Plunkett has not played for England since taking three wickets in the dramatic World Cup final victory over New Zealand at Lord's.

England training group:

Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Dom Bess, Sam Billings, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Henry Brookes, Pat Brown, Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Mason Crane, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Joe Denly, Ben Duckett, Laurie Evans, Ben Foakes, Richard Gleeson, Lewis Gregory, Sam Hain, Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Chris Jordan, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, James Vince, Amar Virdi, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks

England paceman Liam Plunkett has said the outbreak of the global pandemic has made his abrupt exit from international duty "irrelevant".

The 35-year-old Surrey quick helped England lift the World Cup last year, taking three wickets in a thrilling final against New Zealand at Lord's.

That remains his last international appearance, however, with Plunkett disappointed at not being offered an England limited-overs central contract for the 2020 season.

But with Britain currently in lockdown in a bid to combat the pandemic, with the start of the season delayed until May 28 at the earliest and the possibility of further postponements likely, Plunkett was philosophical about his England career.

"Cricket doesn't look so big now," Plunkett told the Sunday Times. 

"All the stuff about me not being picked for England, it's irrelevant.

"I was disappointed, but I've got no need to speak about that now. Like everyone, I want my family and friends to be safe, and that's all I'm worried about."

Plunkett, formerly of Durham and Yorkshire, said cricket, together with sport in general, would bolster national morale once lockdown restrictions were lifted.

"Sport is going to have an important role to play. Cricket will be a spectacle (when it comes back). People are going to be glued to it.

"It will be interesting to see how keen people will be to go to the grounds, but it could be like a Super Bowl, everyone sitting around watching live sport. It might get really big audiences."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Liam Plunkett believes the drama of England's World Cup win against New Zealand has "changed the history of English cricket".

The host nation tied with New Zealand after 100 hard-fought overs at Lord's on Sunday, both sides locked on 241, and even a Super Over shootout could not prise them apart.

Both sides hit 15 from their single over of sudden-death action but England emerged as the winners thanks to a little-known tie-breaker that tallied up the team's boundary count across the match.

The game was watched by the biggest audience in a generation, with around 30,000 packed into Lord's, thousands congregating in front of a big screen in Trafalgar Square in central London and the first free-to-air terrestrial coverage in 14 years.

"What a day -- it has changed the history of English cricket," said Plunkett, the veteran of the side at 34 years old.

"Everyone got to watch that. I hope everyone gets involved and loves it like when we won the Ashes in 2005. It was a special day.

"We have been amazing, and we have changed the culture of cricket in England. I don't believe in the stars and all that stuff, but it was the first time that I felt 'this is meant to be'."

Plunkett finished the tournament with a proud 100 percent record -- winning all seven of the games he played and being overlooked for each of the host nation's three defeats. He also put together an impressive selection of key scalps, including South Africa's Hashim Amla, West Indies opener Chris Gayle and India superstar Virat Kohli. 

In the final, he dismissed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and recorded figures of 3-42.

"The old lucky charm thing, I was riding with it," he said. "I was just hoping the coach would think that so I'd get a game. The last four years playing for England was the best time of my life.

"Kane is a massive player and to get a crucial wicket is what I do pride myself on so it was nice to get that."

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar

England beat New Zealand to win their first World Cup in the most dramatic fashion at Lord's on Sunday.

Needing a modest 242 for victory, the hosts ended on 241 all out, with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 84, sending the match into a Super Over.

The six-ball shootout also ended in a tie, with both sides hitting 15 runs, but Eoin Morgan's side won by virtue of a superior boundary count in the match.

We look at three things we learned from a memorable final:

Stokes-Buttler team up to make history

With Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan back in the dressing room, it needed a special effort from the England middle-order.

Stokes was joined by Jos Buttler at the crease and a defiant 110-run partnership got the hosts back in the game.

1️⃣1️⃣0️⃣ runs
1️⃣3️⃣0️⃣ balls
1️⃣ #CWC19 trophy

Kudos to these game-changers, who dragged England from the pits and took them to the verge of history!#WeAreEngland | #CWC19Final pic.twitter.com/V12I3wUf5h

�?Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 14, 2019

Both renowned for their big hitting, the two men dug deep, running hard for the singles and twos, while the occasional boundary kept the run rate in check.

But after Buttler's departure it was Stokes who almost single-handedly kept England's World Cup dream alive.

The prolific partnership was reunited in the Super Over as Stokes and Buttler combined for 15 runs.

Wicketkeeper Buttler also made a telling contribution with the gloves as he ran out Martin Guptill with the final ball of the match.

Plunkett unbeaten, Archer holds his nerve

England did not lose a single match with Liam Plunkett in the side and he again proved the lucky charm with the prized scalp of Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson.

A master of the art of bowling in the middle overs, Plunkett then bowled the dangerous Henry Nicholls for 55 and sent Jimmy Neesham trudging back to the pavilion.

Best bowling for England in a #CWC final
3/22 - Derek Pringle v Pak (MCG) 1992
3/42 - Liam Plunkett v NZ (Lord's) #CWC19 #CWC2019#CWC19Final#EngvNZ #EngvsNZ #NZvEng #NZvsEng

�?Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 14, 2019

He was ably supported by pace spearhead Chris Woakes, who also took three key wickets.

However, it was Jofra Archer whom captain Eoin Morgan trusted to bowl the Super Over.

Archer had bowled a brilliant final spell in the New Zealand innings and after a terrible start to the Super Over, the 24-year-old held his nerve to restrict the Black Caps to four runs off the final three balls.

Nicholls, Latham finally step up

Throughout the World Cup New Zealand were over-reliant on Williamson's runs, but the skipper found support in battling innings from Nicholls and Tom Latham on Sunday.

Nicholls stood guard with Williamson for a key second-wicket stand after the Kiwis lost Martin Guptill early following their decision to bat first in overcast conditions.

The usually attacking Nicholls curbed his natural instincts to bring up his first fifty of the tournament.

After Nicholls' departure it was Latham who put up his hand in a gritty knock.

The wicketkeeper-batsman knuckled down, nudging to point and cover as he put valuable runs on the board against the accurate English attack.

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Glyn Kirk

Liam Plunkett has warned Australia that England are a "different sort of animal" from their predecessors as they prepare for their blockbuster World Cup semi-final.

The Ashes rivals meet in Birmingham on Thursday with defending champions Australia hoping to stay on track for a sixth title while England aim to stay in the hunt for their first.

Australia have the edge in terms of tournament experience and have won the past four World Cup meetings between the teams �?including a group match earlier in this tournament �?but Plunkett insists times have changed.

"They've been there and done it before but not against this bunch of players," he said.

"We're a different sort of animal compared to our last teams. We've played well for the past four years, we're ranked number one and we feel in a good place. We feel on our day we can beat anyone in the world."

Plunkett is the elder statesman of the current England squad, making his international bow as far back as 2005 and earning his previous taste of World Cup cricket 12 years ago in the West Indies.

He has witnessed the evolution of England's one-day cricket and has never known a better mood.

"We had amazing players (previously) but I never thought we'd win a World Cup," he said.

"We've made it exciting again. I've played in teams where we didn't expect to win. With this squad the public expect us to win games and win series.

"It would be nice to finish this four-year cycle. This journey we've been on, with this group of boys, it comes down to this."

At 34, Plunkett is unlikely to play in the 2023 event in India, meaning the next few days could give him the biggest stage of his career on which to perform.

"I think so," he agreed. "I don't think I'll play another World Cup so for me personally, it's the biggest."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Lindsey Parnaby

England's lucky charm Liam Plunkett hopes he can work his World Cup magic once again when the hosts take on New Zealand with a semi-final place at stake.

Victory for either side in at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday would assure them of a place in the last four and leave the losers sweating on results elsewhere.

The experienced Plunkett justified his World Cup recall with a return of 3-55 in England's 31-run win over previously unbeaten India at Edgbaston on Sunday, with his haul including the prized wicket of Virat Kohli.

England desperately needed to win after back-to-back defeats by Sri Lanka and reigning champions Australia.

Plunkett missed both of those games, as well as a previous group-stage loss to Pakistan, meaning he is the only one of the 13 players England have used so far at the World Cup who remains undefeated.

"It's nice to have that (unbeaten streak), but I think it's just the way it has worked," said Plunkett, who returned at Birmingham in place of dropped off-spinner Moeen Ali. "If I do play hopefully I can make a difference."

He added: "People know if you're not playing you're obviously frustrated -- it's about not showing it. How can you get back in the team? By bowling well in practice.

"Even though I'm 34 can I work on something else tomorrow that could help down the line?"

Plunkett may not have the raw speed of Jofra Archer of Mark Wood but he has often been trusted with the difficult job of bowling in the middle overs, using variations in pace and delivery angle to achieve success.

Kohli is not the only world-class batsman to have been dismissed by Plunkett at the World Cup, with his previous victims including South Africa's Hashim Amla and the West Indies' Chris Gayle.

"I haven't got the ability to just come in and bowl rockets all the time like Jofra or Woody," said Plunkett.  "Some days I feel good with the pace and others less so, but I'm still skilful enough to pick up wickets."

Wednesday's match will see Plunkett back at the headquarters ground of Durham, the county where he started his career.

"It's an amazing journey I've been on and to think that if you win three games of cricket then you win the World Cup. This team is capable of doing just that.

"But nobody is celebrating like crazy. We know we need to go and win the next game and get the momentum going. It is good we've had our kick up the backside."

Feature image courtesy: AFP Photo/ Glyn Kirk

Liam Plunkett said England would be a "better team" if Jofra Archer made it into their World Cup squad after his fellow fast bowler again impressed on international duty.

AFP/ Paul Faith

 

Archer continued his late bid for a World Cup berth with a hostile opening spell against Pakistan at The Oval on Wednesday.

He took one wicket and conceded just six runs in four overs before rain meant there was no result in the first one-day international of a five-match series.

The Sussex fast bowler's display was a rare highlight in a mere 19 overs' cricket before a day/night fixture was finally called off at 7:11 pm (1811 GMT) local time amid concerns over player safety on a heavily wet outfield.

Pakistan were 80 for two, with Imam-ul-Haq 42 not out and Haris Sohail 14 not out.

Barbados-born Archer was not included in England's preliminary squad for the World Cup but could force his way into their final 15 via his displays in this five-match series.

"He's obviously a class act," Plunkett, one of England's established quicks, told reporters afterwards.

"He showed today, he's rocked up and bowled really nicely with pace and smashed the right good areas, picked up a wicket in the first few overs, beating the left-hander (Imam) on the outside edge."

'Effortless'

Plunkett, England's other wicket-taker in a four-over spell of one for 27 on what is now his Surrey home ground, added: "It looks easy for him, he ambles in and bowls 93 mph, he makes it look effortless."

Questions have been raised about the effect on team morale of catapulting Archer, only recently qualified on residency grounds, into England's World Cup squad.

But Plunkett said: "With him in your squad, you're going to be a better team.

"Whoever performing best should be in the squad. If it wasn't Jofra, someone else would be knocking on the door... If they come in and bowl well, they deserve to be there."

 

AFP/ Sajjad Hussain

Archer showed glimpses of his ability while making ODI and Twenty20 international debuts against Ireland and Pakistan last week.

On Tuesday, former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff says "anyone" should be dropped to make sure Archer had a place in the World Cup squad.

Archer seized his latest chance after England captain Eoin Morgan won Wednesday's delayed toss at The Oval.

He started with a superb maiden over to Imam, generating movement off the pitch at a sharp pace.

It was not long before Archer dismissed Fakhar Zaman -- the century-making star of Pakistan's 2017 Champions Trophy final win over India at The Oval -- for three after he edged to Test skipper Joe Root in the slips.

New batsman Babar Azam (16) struck three boundaries before he edged Plunkett to wicket-keeper Jos Buttler.

"I still don't feel at my best," said Plunkett. "I feel I can be better, but if I'm still picking wickets up I'm happy with that." 

The series continues at Southampton on Saturday, with Plunkett and his team-mates looking to prove their World Cup worth to England selection chief Ed Smith.

"You don't want the rain, you don't want it (to) come, but all you can do when (you) get a chance again is to be your own selector and perform," said Plunkett, citing the advice he 'd received from former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, once his coach at Yorkshire but now in charge of Archer at Sussex.

"That's what 'Dizzy' (Gillespie) used to say, 'be your own selector'. If you're picking up wickets that's what you'll do."