Liam Plunkett has lauded England Lions skipper Chris Woakes ahead of the second ‘Test’ against Sri Lanka A.
A captain’s performance from Woakes, in which he hit a crucial second-innings 92 not out and claimed six match wickets, helped the second-string to a comprehensive 167-run win in the first of three encounters.
With the squad now in Dambulla ahead of the next game, which begins tomorrow, Plunkett took time out to sing his captain’s praises.
“He has been good; he is a bowling captain, which suits me as a bowler,” Plunkett told ecb.co.uk. “He is good to talk to.
“The way he played last game, he led from the front with bat and ball. It is good to have a captain like that who’s an exciting all-round cricketer."
Plunkett himself played no small part in the triumph at Kandy, claiming 3-51 as England dismissed their hosts for 311 in the second innings.
Having also struck a century in one of the warm-up encounters, he is unsurprisingly brimming with confidence.
“I cannot wait (for the second Test). I had a good bowl in the last Test and picked up a few wickets,” he added.
“I feel in good rhythm and hopefully I’ll get selected in this Test and put in a good performance again.”
The feel-good factor does not merely reside with Plunkett; the Yorkshire bowler reports high spirits throughout the squad.
“The camp is on a big high after that win in the first Test in Kandy,” said Plunkett. “We are looking forward to the second Test now.
“It is going to be tough. They have a lot of good cricketers and showed some real good fight in that last Test so they are going to bring that to this game.
“All in all, confidence is high and we are playing some good cricket.”