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‘That’s a disgrace’ – Vaughan lambasts England’s treatment of Plunkett

Plunkett
by Wisden Staff 1 minute read

Michael Vaughan has called England’s treatment of World Cup-winning pacer Liam Plunkett a “disgrace” after a chat with the player in the Tuffers and Vaughan podcast.

Plunkett, 35, played a key role in England’s World Cup triumph last year, but has not played for the team since. He’s been left out of subsequent squads, but Plunkett, speaking Vaughan and Phil Tufnell in the podcast, said what particularly disappointed him was that he had to find the news of his omission through Twitter.

Vaughan was irked by the lack of communication, and said that shouldn’t happen in this era of the sport. “Do you know what, Phil? The most disappointing thing that I heard in that interview was that after the World Cup final, he won England a World Cup with a group of players and management, and not one person rang him up. Not one person.

“He had to find that [news of omission] out through Twitter – I’m sorry, that’s back in your day, Phil. That doesn’t happen in this era of cricket, that’s a disgrace.”

Vaughan added that Plunkett was “pound for pound, the fittest England cricketer” while Tufnell wondered why they would leave him out of their 55-man squad, comprising players in consideration ahead of the potential return of international cricket after the Covid-19-enforced break.

“Bit harsh, in my book. Why would you not have him in a 55-man squad?” Tufnell said. “I can’t understand it. I know people are looking to go forward, you got to always think about four years time … [but he’s] experienced, played all around the world, was the go-to guy for Eoin Morgan in that World Cup, can bat as well, great team member – I can’t quite see it.

“If [Plunkett] does go on to perhaps get his coaching badges … I think he’ll be a great man to have knocking around in English cricket, for sure. All that experience, and you need a certain type of bowler in those situations, Mike, don’t you? Someone who enjoys having the ball at those pressure times. And Liam’s always come up done that.”

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