Saturday 11 April 2015 20:35, UK
Liam Plunkett has warned the West Indies batting line-up they can expect some rough treatment in the forthcoming three-Test Series.
The England seam bowler is in line to make his comeback after injury curtailed his involvement in last year’s Test series against India.
Plunket took 18 wickets against India and Sri Lanka last summer before the injury and the Yorkshire paceman has his sights set on ruffling a few feathers in the Caribbean.
"I'm trying to be the fastest (bowler on the pitch). I train hard at it and I feel that's why I stand out from the rest," Plunkett said ahead of Monday's two-day warm-up against a St Kitts & Nevis Invitation XI.
"I feel like I'm adaptable but you might need those little patches in the game - where it's a bit dead and there's good batters - to try and rough them up a bit.
"That's why I'm in the team, because I do bowl fast.
"I'm not a bowler who runs up and just hits line and length all day, I want to do something, I want to ruffle batsmen up. If that's what I'm asked to do, I'm happy to do that."
Plunkett is not a certainty to play in the first Test in Antigua and faces completion from Barbados-born Chris Jordan and Mark Wood for a spot alongside James Anderson and Stuart Broad.
But Plunkett is not fazed by the competition and is relishing the challenge of earning a spot in England’s bowling line-up for the Antigua Test, which starts on April 13.
"It's a good unit, a good bunch of lads and we're all working hard.” he said. “There's massive competition.
I'm not a bowler who runs up and just hits line and length all day, I want to do something, I want to ruffle batsmen up. If that's what I'm asked to do, I'm happy to do that.
"It's up to me to bowl well in practice and in the warm-up games and get the chance to play in the first Test. You don't want to just get in easily. You want to feel like you've earned your place and outbowled the other guys. You want to be the best bowler.
"Last summer I felt the best I had in my career, I felt good with the ball, I felt confident. I felt I was in a situation where I could win games for England. It didn't quite happen but I bowled nicely.
"Then I got the injury, went away this winter with the Lions and I feel good again. I got some wickets and some good rhythm so it would be good to play that first Test."
