Yorkshire Vikings v Notts Outlaws: I had to take IPL chance, says Liam Plunkett

LIAM PLUNKETT has defended his decision to leave Yorkshire temporarily on the eve of the season to play in the money-spinning Indian Premier League, saying that he had to think about his family and his future.
Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett (Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com).Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett (Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com).
Yorkshire's Liam Plunkett (Picture: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com).

Plunkett joined Delhi Daredevils one week before the County Championship campaign for a reported £200,000 for less than two months’ work.

The England star admits that he felt bad about going at the last minute as a replacement for the injured South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada.

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David Willey, his Yorkshire and England team-mate, did the same, joining Chennai Super Kings for a reportedly similar fee after an injury to India batsman Kedar Jadhav, which prompted Yorkshire to call for an IPL cut-off window to prevent counties from losing players at the 11th-hour.

But as he prepared to make his first appearance for Yorkshire this season in today’s One-Day Cup match against Nottinghamshire at Headingley, Plunkett insisted that he had to grab what could prove to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I felt bad going a little bit, do you know what I mean, but you’ve got to think about family and your future,” he said.

“Obviously, the club were frustrated – myself and Dave went to the IPL and Rash (Adil Rashid) had pulled out (of red-ball cricket) – but they fully understood at the same time.

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“My intention was always to play IPL, as I was in the initial auction but didn’t get picked up.

“After that my sights were fully focused on playing red-ball cricket for Yorkshire, but then the (IPL) chance came around after all and it might not happen again.”

Plunkett, 33, is in the closing stages of a career in which he has represented his country 93 times in all formats.

He believes that his Test career is over – his last appearance came almost four years ago – and he challenged any critics how they would react if they suddenly had the chance to earn a life-changing sum for a few weeks’ work, a lure which also explains why counties are reluctant to stand in players’ way for fear of fostering discontent.

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“If I said to someone, as a day job, you’re going to go down the road for five weeks and get paid three times as much, are they going to say ‘no’?” said Plunkett.

“You go to the IPL and it can help to pay your house off. Also, I’ve got a missus that I’m getting married to and you’ve got to think of that.

“The career of a cricketer is not like set; what if I get injured in two years and don’t have a contract and I miss an opportunity to pay my house off?”

However, Plunkett fully understands supporters’ frustrations.

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As an Arsenal fan he admits that he would feel the same if a couple of the Gunners’ best players were whisked off just before the start of the Premier League season.

“Of course, you can understand it,” he added. “If, as an Arsenal fan, a Russian team comes along and says that they’re going to take two of the best players away for six weeks it’s going to be frustrating.

“I want to play for Yorkshire as much as possible, and I will try as hard as anyone in a Yorkshire shirt.

“But, as I say, the IPL might not come around again – I hope that it does, but you have to consider your future.”

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Plunkett had a mixed IPL as Delhi Daredevils finished bottom of the table.

He took 3-17 in his first game against Kings XI Punjab, but managed only one more wicket in his next six matches, while his solitary innings was one not out.

“Obviously it would have been nice as a team if we’d got some more wins, but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“I would have liked to have taken more wickets, as anyone would, but I felt that I went alright overall.

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“I feel like I’ve learned quite a bit – different skills, tactical stuff, which I’ll speak to Yorkshire about going forward.

“It was tough conditions over there and you have to be on the money straight away otherwise you’re going to go out of the park.”

Plunkett is available for the last five One-Day Cup group games before linking up with England’s white-ball squad.

“I’m looking forward to playing for Yorkshire again and feel good to go,” he said.

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“I’ve been bowling a lot in practice and hopefully I can perform for the lads and help them win games.

“We know on our day that we’re as good as anyone, and it’s all about consistency. The best teams in any sport have consistency and back-up their best performances.”

Yorkshire have lost two of their three One-Day Cup games going into today’s match against the cup holders.

Yorkshire (from): Bresnan, Brook, Brooks, Coad, Fisher, Hodd, Kohler-Cadmore, Leaning, Lyth, Patterson (captain), Plunkett, Pujara, Rashid, Wainman.

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