Liam Plunkett gets it together

Liam Plunkett had been Down Under a couple of months before England let him have a game. Understandably, he was crap in that match, as you would be if you'd suddenly gone from long-term virtual isolation to professional sport in front of thousands and thousands of people.

But from then on he got better and better, culminating today in his destruction of Australia's top order. He got Gilchrist for 20, Ponting for seven and Clarke for a duck. If you can do that, you've gone a long way to winning a cricket match.

Plunkett's form has coincided with England's resurgence. Since the nadir of 110 all out against Australia a few matches back, Plunkett's contributions read 3-54 and 25 not out; 3-24 and 10 not out; 3-60 and 15 not out; 0-56 without batting; and today 3-43 and 8 not out.

None of those statistics are spectacular in their own right, but add them up and you see that here is a cricketer who is contributing. 12 wickets at 19.75 and 58 runs without being dismissed.

Handy.

Liam Plunkett holds his nerve

A cracking match at the Riverside. The Friends Provident Trophy semi final between Durham and Essex was proof that you don't need a glut of sixes and fours for excitement in the one-day game.

After Essex were bowled out for just 71 this was a low-scoring classic, with a single worth half a dozen fours in any other context. In the end it came down to a test of nerve. Fortunately for Durham and most promisingly for England, Liam Plunkett held his.

Of 19 batsmen who appeared at the crease, four got into double figures, two passed 20 and only one, Liam Plunkett, reached 30. This in addition to taking 4-15 with the ball.

Both teams fell to 38-7 and it was at this point that Plunkett came in for Durham. That was the difference. Plunkett scored at a run a ball while Ottis Gibson's five off 27 balls in support was the third-longest of the match.

We're delighted. There's no way that Liam Plunkett isn't going to play a part for England in the future and this was a fantastically gutsy effort that shows he's undaunted by pressure. Perhaps Plunkett will be a player who 'puts his hand up' when he's really needed.

We're putting our hand up now. It's no use to anyone - least of all ourself as our typing speed has diminished considerably.