Grin and bear it
Thanks for your responses to my last blog entry and continued good wishes ahead of the Ashes series.
Our first game is only three weeks away now and I can't wait to get out there.
In the meantime, here are the answers to some of your questions and watch out for my third blog next week.
Jack Chambers wrote
I was just wondering why people call you Pudsey, and who gave you the name?
Jack, When I was a bit younger I was chubbier and someone called me Pudsey, as in the Children in Need teddy bear, and it has just stuck. All my England and Durham team-mates call me it now so there’s no getting away from it!
Imran Bhutta wrote
When you bowl, it seems as if you concentrate on line and length more often than speed....are there any plans to increase it?
Imran, My average speed is 85mph but in a good spell I can bowl 90mph. I do want to bowl faster but line and length is key for me and If I’m successful that’s not a problem.
Sarah wrote
Just wondering who your closest friends are in the England squad? On Cricket AM, Ian Bell said you were his best mate - is the feeling mutual?
Hello Sarah, I get on with Belly the best. We are of similar age so we tend to knock around together and have similar tastes in music and movies. I’ve known him for three years, we met at the Academy, and we get on well.
Sian Blackmore wrote
It’s great to get an insight into the mind of a cricketer! Any opinion on the Pakistan doping incident?
Hi Sian, If they have deliberately taken something then they will have to face up to the consequences. There is no excuse to take banned drugs in any sport in my opinion.
The England team are briefed on banned substances and we can check over-the-counter medicines on a website. I have done that once to check the ingredients for a cough medicine.
Alex Shand wrote
I was just wondering what you lads eat at lunch during a Test? Is it the sandwiches, cakes, crisps and biscuits us club cricketers get, or something a lot more healthy?
Alex, On a batting day, when I’m not bowling I tend to fill my boots and eat whatever is on show. If I’m bowling I keep it quite light and will have something like jacket potato and beans.
The lunches at Lord’s are legendary and you have a full menu with starters and then main courses to choose from including steaks, chicken and pasta.
We can eat cakes but we don’t tend to go for things which aren’t going to benefit us. However we are all partial to jelly babies and wine gums to give us a bit of energy on the field
As a more than competent batsmen, where did you bat for your local club team - and how successful were you ?????
Complain about this postWho isn't partial to Jelly Babies and Wine gums?
Complain about this postI would love to see Test cricketers eating cakes on the field for energy. Forget all that Lucozade rubbish!
Complain about this postHi Liam, you have the great pleasure of sharing
Complain about this posta name with my brother who been living in Australia for the last 30 years. Do you have Irish relatives?
Dear Liam,
Complain about this postWith The Ashes looming fast are there eny specific preparations you, or the team as a whole, will be making and which Aussie players do you think will be targeted during the series?
When I play cricket for my local team usually there is only a few people watching (parents). How does it feel like playing in front of 20,000 odd people?
Complain about this postWe have our Pudsey St Lawrence junior presentation tonight so I'll be honoured to mention that the town has a place in the England set up!
Complain about this postPudsey,
At present, who and why in your opinion are englands best test bowlers. No cop outs please.
Complain about this postI imagine Tresco is partial to the odd cake or 4.
Complain about this postdo you or any of the other england boys have any pre-match, post-match or 'during the match' superstitions?
Complain about this postAs England seem to have a fairly long tail. Is it your aim to try and cement the no 8 spot. You seemed to have had lean spell with the bat recently
Complain about this postDo you feel that the ICC champions trophy is just a warm up to the ashes or are you taking it very seriously?
Complain about this postLiam,
outside of cricket, what is your fondest sporting memory ?
Complain about this postI am an allrounder but I want to improve ym bowling. I am 14 and last year I was registering 55MPH but I want to improve my pace. How can i improve it and also how can Imrove my line length?
Complain about this posthello liam,
just wondering how did your sponsorship come about, isit anoying if you like something from another brand but can't wear it? Also who is the hardest batsmen youve bowled at (can be from your own team) and best bowler to bowl at you?
Nice Column,
J.
Complain about this posta few of us girls at work have been having a debate on the best looking cricketer in the england squad and ur name has been mentioned a few times, so who do u reckon is the best looking? and who is the vainest?
Complain about this postLiam, by the middle of August I feel washed out from only playing for two days a week. Do you ever get bored of being a pro and wish you had a cosy little 9 'till 5, playing at the weekend bowling 20 overs a week ?
Complain about this posthi liam
Complain about this postHI Liam,
My mate told me that you played some grade cricket in Aussie last year for University of Adelaide, will that have helped you experience Aussie sledging for this year. Also, could you let me know how you rated my mate as a bat? It was Chris Hoggard, hopefully you pinned him a few times in the nets!
Cheers.
Complain about this postLIAM
I REMEMBER WATCHING MARSKE 1ST XI IN THE 80'S WHEN YOUR DAD, ALUN CLEAN BOWLED IJAZ AHMED (EX PAKISTAN TEST PLAYER)WHO WAS PLAYING FOR REDCAR. I WAS A CLUB JUNIOR BACK THEN AND REMEMBER YOU WHEN YOU WERE KNEE HIGH ALWAYS WATCHING THE 1ST XI AND PLAYING BOUNDARIES AT TEA , HAPPY DAYS AND GOOD LUCK DOWN UNDER
Complain about this postHello Liam just a quick question who was the most devastating batsmen you bowled too last summer? Razzaq or Afridi.
Good luck for the ASHES!
Complain about this postWho in your opinion is the best batsman you've bowled against? My guess is Mohammed Yousef?
Complain about this postAny banter about football???
Complain about this postThere must be some interesting stuff goin' off with such an mix of guys???
You mentioned that you and Belly are good mates , is there a possibility that the two of you will be starting up a cycle-rickshaw business ?? & if so can I book a lift with you in Perth ??!
Complain about this postHi Liam, Which of the Aussie batsman do you have the highest regard for and why?
Complain about this postHave you ever played cricket here in Ireland?
Complain about this postLiam,
Complain about this postwhich bowlers did you particularly admire when you were a lad?
good luck this winter and beyond.
Liam,
When you guys work out and practice your cricket, does your body, specially your back feels tight in certain areas? If yes, then what do you do about it? And is this considered an injury or it is just normal to have a sore back in cricket?
Thanks,
Bilal
Complain about this postLiam I Genually Hope you give Aussie Batsaman a real hard time, to see you unleash a bouncer on Ponting, wonderful. with the bounce on the Aussie pitches how do you think you will do?
Complain about this postIf you hadn't succeeded as a professional cricketer, what do you think you would be doing now?
Complain about this postHi, Liam!
You are extremely good
Complain about this postI met you at the Durham vs Warwickshire Game and followed you to watch you bat in the nets i felt that when i see you bat for England that you dont concentrate as much as in the nets it is the same with me as when i go out to bat i just wanna smash the ball to bits where as in the nets i feel very very denfensive. Please can i some autographs for me and my brother Callum.
Complain about this postHow do you bounce back from a bad spell?
Complain about this poste.g. the whole sri lanka series
Liam, you seem to bowl a lot half track rubbish, any plans to pitch the ball up in the future?
Complain about this postHi Liam,
My Grandad Pat was your Grandma Maureen's Brother, and I met your nephew Charlie in Tescos.
I am 8 and love cricket, when did you know that you wanted to be a professional cricketer?
Good luck in the "Ashes" we will be watching the highlights.
Please can you get Shane Warne out for a "DUCK".
Lewis.
Complain about this postI'm just breaking into a county academy side and am a young quick(ish!) bowler. I was wondering if you had any tips on becoming a better all round player and how to get that extra bit better in order to play county cricket and beyond!?
Complain about this postLiam how much of a buzz do u get when u play for england and could u give me adivce on how to get noticed in cricket.
Complain about this postHi Liam
Give them hell
Looking forward to many sleepless nights
Best of Luck
Graham
Complain about this postWould you rather score a double century or get a ten wicket haul?
Complain about this postMr Plunkett, whats the best way to train yourself in line and length? Hitting that spot consistently etc?.... & which batsmen that you've come up against are best at disrupting any rythm
On a more serious note....When at Lords, Has Kevin Pieterersen ever been known to order food thats not on the menu - akin to a Hollywood star?
Also, imagine its street fighter... Geraint Jones vs Chris Read... who'd win?
Complain about this postJust wondering how highly you rate your Durham team mate and Steve Harmison's younger brother Ben? Do you think he can be as successful as Steve has been in the game?
Complain about this postWhat has been your most memorable cricketing moment in your career so far.
Complain about this postdo you think england will win the ashes? if so who do you will be the main addition to the squad giles or panesar?
Complain about this postChris wrote: I imagine Tresco is partial to the odd cake or 4.
LMAO
I too am interested to know if any of the team are superstituous? If so what do they do? I remember hearing someone in the South African side taped Neil Mckenzie's bat to the ceiling of the dressing room and when he went out to bat he scored a century.. he gets them to do it every now and then (when he gets a game that is ;) )
Complain about this postI have seen you bowl in various tests but what I want to is is what are your best bowling figures?
Complain about this postHi Liam, how diffcult is it when you are bowling against a really great partnership? Younis and Yousuf made Test batting look easy last summer and sometimes the England bowlers looked out of ideas. What do you do to keep going?
Complain about this postHi Liam,
Are you watching the matches that are going on in India right now? If so, what has impressed you the most so far (and be honest)?
A second question...one just to settle the debate with a couple friends of mine: does Colly like being called ginger for his red hair? If not, what does Colly prefer?
Keep up the good work, you're doing a fantastic job.
Cheers,
Complain about this postJohn (a.k.a. Western Canada's #1 England supporter)
Calgary, Alberta, CANADA
In a pitch like Perth, how do you adjust your length say when you compare to Lords?
Complain about this postLiam, Congratulations on your Ashes selection. Do you think your experience playing for Adelaide University a couple of seasons ago will help you adjust to the Australian conditions?
Complain about this postDo you think you or any of the other players on the team would be any good at baseball?
Complain about this postWELL "PUDSEY" lol which bowlerin modern day cricket do you most relate yourself to??? a glenn McGrath or even Shaun Pollovck?? or so you aspire to became as good a prober outside off stump as him or do you feel you can use more variety to get top batsmen out!!! and how do you think you can hanlde shane warne who is a bloody fine role model in all forms??? wb steve gray!!
Complain about this postHow your batting came flope in international games?
Complain about this postHi liam, just wondering if you could give me any tips on how to bowl a little bit quicker is it because of my run up is to slow or has got to do with fitness.
Complain about this postjust wondering who in the england camp keeps his length under control best? devon malcolm used to struggle in this regard. that's what the gossip is anyway.
Complain about this postLiam,
Could you and some of the other guys in the squad send David Beckham and Rio Ferdinand a couple of replica England cricket caps?
Every time I see them on this website etc they're looking like try-hard plonkers in NY Yankees caps.
You'd think these blokes, especially Becks, would be proud to show their support for England in the next few months.
Complain about this postHi Liam,
Complain about this postI was just reading a cricket magazine, and it had a vote about which England player's off field talents people enyved the most. Hmmm... You came last (but that's not as important) with volleyball! Wow! You play cricket, practice boxing, volleyball; what other surprising hobbies and talents do you have? By the way, Darren Gough came first with dancing, Andrew Strauss with golf, Jon Lewis with poetry 'and stuff', then you with volleyball (with 7% of the votes).
Why are u not playing in campions trrophy...is there any injury going on
Complain about this postWhat do you think about Glen McGrath's prediction on the ashesin the winter? He says a 5-0 whitewash to Australia! What do you think it will be?
Complain about this posthi liam, i would just like to say that i think you are a superb bowler and, in my opinion, should go to the ashes in place of Sajiid Mahmood, firstly i think your bowling standard is much, much higher and that your batting at no. 8 is worthy of a palce in the team. I was wondering about sledging, as you know you would get a lot of it in Australia but whats the worst you have ever heard and what was your reaction
Complain about this postAfter watching England lose to both India and Australia in the last week, do you ever feel annoyed you can't have an affect on the game and play your part?
Complain about this postHi Liam, I was just wondering wether you do any other sports or even hobbies in your sparetime and what is your favourite?
Complain about this postHi Liam, i am a county member at Durham and love watching my county. Obviously we only just stayed up last year and that was due to a lack of fast bowlers. Do you think you play for Durham enough, and are you pleased with the recent signings?
Complain about this postyour too crap to get into the england side!!!!! hahahaha
Complain about this posthi im so worried for the world cup we change the batting lineup every game why dont fletcher and freddie do what we do in the test team they all no their batting postions and it stays the same all series. what is collingwood doing so low down the order and freddie should come in no6. his record his terriable in india and he still needs match rusty mine would be strauss 1 bell 2 kp 3
Complain about this postcollie 4 darlyrimple 5 fredie 6 yardy 7 read 8 anderson 9 lewis 10 harmy 11
To pudsey as you shall now be known.
I am just wondering what the difference between training at durham and england is? Do you ever get nervous facing Harmison at 90miles an hour plus and if i may be so bold to ask.... Is the hype surronding Panaser justified?
Complain about this postLiam, you are a young fast bowler, I was wondering if you have any tips for others still developing thier skill?
Complain about this postHello, well I was wondering what you think of the recent performance of Australia? They beat England quite bad and what do you think of The Ashes, Also What do you think of Monty as a spinner?
Complain about this postwhos the handest you ever played against and are you gonna play in the ashes
Complain about this postIn what way will Eng's ouster from the Champions Trophy affect the team's performance in the World Cup (less than 5 months away) and assuming that those players who are out due to injuries do not make a comeback in time?
Complain about this postWhat are your hopes for Durham next season? And what are your personal targets?
Complain about this postwho has the worst dress sense in the england team?
Complain about this postHello to you Liam,
Complain about this postPlease, I am a pom living down under and as you can understand the hype is starting to heat up now with only a short time left before the good times roll.Tell me with these injuries that we ars carrying what tests do you think we can win? Are there certain wkts that you can adapt to quicker?
Also most of the press comments say that there will be a 2nd 11 in Perth at the accademy. Where is this accademy in Perth as i am damned if i know where it is.
Please also can you tell me which players are going to or who are playing grade cricket in Perth this year.
Thank you foe your time,
spencer.
its kind of a stupid question but at tea in a test match do you guys actually drink tea or is it just called tea
Complain about this postWhich of the England squad has the worst music taste? and what is your own personal choice?
Complain about this postHey, i was just wondering what your thoughts were on Mike Hussey's brilliant form are, since you two were teammates at Durham...
PS: best wishes for being fit for the Ashes, hope you get there...
Complain about this postI am loving all the blogs! Anyway i was wondering what is the funniest prank in the dressing room done to you or a fellow team mate???
Complain about this postJust wondering what your view on sledging is after seeing Chris Gayle go a bit over the top with it last week with Michael Clarke?
Complain about this postLiam
We played against us a few years ago whilst you played for Durham Academy in the North East Prem League, various other Durham players have followed the same route (Muchall, Onions, Davies, Mustard) do you feel that this was a beneficial environment to learn ? It certainly wasn't fun facing you and Graham Onions on a fast deck at the Riverside !! Keep up the good work and hopefully you will be back amongst the England squad !
Complain about this postGiven (the Yorkshire town) Pudsey's excellent pedigree for creating world class cricketers, it's not a bad nickname.
Complain about this postPathetic performance by England. Your thoughts?
Complain about this post