"I think Jason was absolutely knackered at the end! He had obviously spent a long stint at the crease and to concentrate for that long under that sort of intensity does take it out of you."
Thursday 18 January 2018 20:51, UK
England got off to a flyer in the ODI series against Australia, while Philadelphia Eagles continue to soar in the NFL - Liam Plunkett reflects on both, and reveals whether he is quicker than Mark Wood, in his latest column for Sky Sports…
It was a great start for us in the ODI series but it wasn't that surprising we won because we really do back ourselves as a team.
The way we went about it was really pleasing - Australia got 300 but we thought we bowled well, albeit with a few areas to improve, while we always felt always felt we could take that down.
We have scored more than 300 a lot more times than anyone else in the recent past and with our batting line-up we do feel that if we play our game we can knock anything off, even against a good bowling team.
Jason Roy got that massive score of 180 but we were amazing from the get-go - Jonny Bairstow may have only got 14 but the way he and J-Roy started off the run chase was something special.
I think Jason was absolutely knackered at the end! He had obviously spent a long stint at the crease and to concentrate for that long under that sort of intensity does take it out of you.
He was buzzing, over the moon with his innings, and we were so happy for him. That's the thing about our dressing room and why we have been so successful as a team - we want each other to do well.
We bat all the way down, that's something we pride ourselves on - Mark Wood was down to come in at No 11 on Sunday but he has got three first-class fifties and can hold a bat nicely.
People don't leave it to the next person to get the job done but if that does happen then that person usually scores runs. There is also so much depth outside the 11 with Sam Billings in the squad and Ben Stokes to come back at some point and make us even stronger.
Jason's double hundred partnership with Rooty was very special and it's important not to forget the part Joe played in it. You just can't keep him on strike as your decent balls go for one!
Even if you bowl on middle and off he can glide you down to third man, plus he runs between the wickets like lightning. He then puts the bad balls away, so he is so tough to bowl to.
He's one of the best in the world and bowling at him in the nets ultimately improves you as a bowler - if you can keep him quiet in training you know you have done a good job,
I would have liked to go for fewer runs in the first ODI but the format of the game means batsmen come at you. There were only a couple of overs I would change.
I thought I started nicely and could have had four - if AJ Tye's shot at the end had carried to Jonny that would have been my 100th ODI wicket.
You'd love to go at three or four an over but the way cricket is played nowadays you do go for runs. So if you pick up three of four wickets you have done well, especially if other people are containing.
A wicket that gives me the most satisfaction would be a quick delivery that hits off-stump or a genuine nick off to 'keeper or first slip, but that doesn't happen too often in the middle or later overs of an ODI when people are swinging for the rafters!
You end up getting a lot of wickets caught in the deep but if you place your fielders there then you have bowled to your plans.
Woody looked sharp at the MCG while getting David Warner out - he's full of energy and very explosive so it's good to have him back in the team and bowling nicely.
Is he quicker than me? He is consistently fast, whereas I go through spells.
When I hit my straps I feel as though I am as quick as anyone in England but I think what actually helps me is that my action can go from 90mph to 80 in one delivery.
We've got two ODIs this week, in Brisbane on Friday and Sydney on Sunday, but I'll be keeping an eye on the NFL where Philadelphia Eagles are playing in the NFL play-offs - they're one game from the Super Bowl.
I met my missus 11 years ago and she is from Philadelphia, so when I went to see her in the States I got interested in the Eagles and have followed them ever since. Philadelphia is a passionate sporting area and people expect their teams to do well.
The Eagles started well last year with Carson Wentz at quarterback - they didn't make the play-offs but with a year under his belt and knowing the team a little bit better, Wentz did well again before he got injured.
The defence is also a lot better, so hopefully they beat Minnesota and make the big game.
Liam Plunkett will be blogging for Sky Sports throughout the ODI series.
