With all the elements of an all-rounder, Liam Plunkett debuted in first-class cricket for Durham in 2003, and in a couple of years took instant charge of the bowling attack. Injured team-mates Steve Harmison and Mark Davies had left behind big shoes to fill to which Plunkett quickly responded, by claiming 50 wickets in the 2005 season for the first time.<br /><br />Nicknamed "Pudsy", he was selected for England’s tour to Pakistan in 2005-06 and made his Test and ODI debut in the same tour. In only his second ODI, he showed his batting skills with a decent half century. An injury to Simon Jones granted him his first Test appearance, where he struggled. <br /><br />The Pakistan tour was followed by a tour to India where Plunkett played his second Test and was rather unsuccessful. Later, he was also chosen for the Test series against Sri Lanka where he enjoyed moderate success. A part of England’s Ashes squad in 2006-07, he failed to attract attention in Tests, but rose to prominence in the ODIs with 12 wickets in the series. His impressive performance gave him a place in the 2007 World Cup squad, where he played a few games. <br /><meta content="cms.next" name="cmsei" />