England is all set to face-off against rivals Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup semi-final in Birmingham on Thursday, 11th July.
The Three Lions fast bowler Liam Plunkett has sent a warning to the defending champions on Tuesday (9th July), saying, the Lions are now a "different sort of animal" compared to their predecessors who can beat anyone on their day.
While Australia would be certainly looking for the record sixth World Cup title on 14th July and even has the edge for the blockbuster semi-final in terms of tournament experience as compared to the hosts, who have made three times final but could not clinch the coveted trophy.
Well, Plunkett has insisted that times have changed now, saying their Ashes rivals have not done that against this current bunch of players, who are now ready to take on Australia in Birmingham to stay in the hunt for the maiden World Cup title on the home soil.
Speaking to the media during the England Nets Session at Edgbaston on Tuesday, Plunkett said, “They've been there and done it before but not against this bunch of players. We're a different sort of animal compared to our last teams. We've played well for the past four years, we're ranked number one and we feel in a good place. We feel on our day we can beat anyone in the world.”
Having made his international debut way back in 2005, Plunkett is the eldest member in the England’s World Cup 2019 squad and also has previous taste of the mega 50-over event 12 years ago in the West Indies, admitted that England had amazing players in the past, but he never saw better squad than current, who are full of confidence to win the title this time.
The paceman further added, “We had amazing players (previously) but I never thought we'd win a World Cup. We've made it exciting again. I've played in teams where we didn't expect to win. With this squad, the public expects us to win games and win series. It would be nice to finish this four-year cycle. This journey we've been on, with this group of boys, it comes down to this.”
At 34, Plunkett is highly unlikely to play the next World Cup 2023 in India, and he also admitted the same, so the ongoing event is the biggest one for him and looks optimistic about his team’s chances in the showpiece event at home.
He signed off by saying, “I think so. I don't think I'll play another World Cup so for me personally, it's the biggest.”
(With AFP Inputs)
