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Former England seamer Plunkett turns to baseball, debuts with strikeout
🇸🇬 Singapore /Sports

Former England seamer Plunkett turns to baseball, debuts with strikeout

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Former England cricketer Liam Plunkett made his debut for the independent American baseball club Oakland Ballers.
  • Plunkett, a member of England's 2019 World Cup-winning team, played in the Pioneer Baseball League under a special marketing player clause.
  • He recorded a strikeout in his first game, expressing satisfaction with his performance.

Liam Plunkett, a key figure in England's 2019 Cricket World Cup victory, has traded his cricket bat for a baseball glove, debuting with the independent American club Oakland Ballers. The 41-year-old played his first game on Friday in the Pioneer Baseball League (PBL), a Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner League. Plunkett featured under the PBL's "marketing player" exception, which allows teams to temporarily sign high-profile athletes from other sports. He took to the mound against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds at Raimondi Park, where he managed to record a strikeout. "Play first game, get a strikeout. What more could I ask for? Happy days!" Plunkett said after the game, admitting to some initial nerves but praising the catcher's support. His move to the United States follows his final international cricket appearance and a stint playing Major League Cricket for the San Francisco Unicorns.

Originally, I thought it's like the ceremonial open pitch, but it was the real thing. I was first on the mound, a little bit nervous, but the catcher was excellent.

— Liam PlunkettDescribing his feelings before and during his first baseball game.
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Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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