LIAM PLUNKETT MAKES BASEBALL DEBUT FOR OAKLAND BALLERS

Liam Plunkett, a former England fast bowler, made his professional baseball debut for the Oakland Ballers against the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds in the Pioneer Baseball League on Friday. The 41-year-old threw five pitches and struck out Josh Duarte of the Freebirds in front of 1,878 spectators at Raimondi Park on the United States' west coast. The Ballers lost the match 18-11. Plunkett said he believed he was the first English cricketer to play a professional baseball game, describing the achievement as "pretty cool" despite the Pioneer League operating below Major League Baseball level.

Plunkett joined the Ballers under the Pioneer Baseball League's marketing player exception, a rule permitting clubs to sign one non-prospect player, often a notable veteran or former Major League Baseball player, outside standard roster eligibility limits. He emigrated to the United States five years ago and currently plays in Major League Cricket for the San Francisco Unicorns, though he has not yet appeared for that franchise this season. Before the game, Plunkett attempted batting during training but concluded that pitching suited his abilities better, citing the different swing path required when facing pitches thrown at 90mph.

Plunkett represented England across 13 Tests, 89 One Day Internationals and 22 T20 matches, taking 201 wickets across all formats. He was part of the England squad that won the 50-over World Cup on home soil in 2019. Plunkett has previously thrown ceremonial first pitches for the Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins as part of his role as an Major League Cricket ambassador.