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Cricket Star Liam Plunkett Debuts, Strikes Out, Oakland Loses

6/27/2026

47 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Plunkett Debuts

Liam Plunkett debuted for the Oakland Ballers on June 26, striking out Josh Duarte as the team lost 18-11.
He joined under the league’s “marketing player” clause, said it felt more serious than a ceremonial pitch, and noted he may be the first English cricketer to play professional baseball.
The 2019 Cricket World Cup winner also belongs to the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket but has not played this season.

Summary

Rew Scores

James Rew scored an unbeaten 116 off 56 balls, guiding Somerset to a total of 194-7 and an 18-run victory over Gloucestershire in the Vitality Blast.
The innings illustrated the high-scoring form prevalent in English T20 cricket.
Liam Plunkett made his professional baseball debut for the Oakland Ballers on that Friday.
Other Blast matches saw Northamptonshire defeat Essex by 130 runs and Hampshire edge Yorkshire by two wickets.

History

Historical Context

In 1912 C.B. Fry, then England cricket captain, received a New York Giants contract offer, becoming the first cricketer to pursue professional baseball. His 94 first-class centuries and reputation set a precedent that resurfaces a century later when England fast-bowler Liam Plunkett debuted for the Oakland Ballers and James Rew hit a 116-run blast in the Vitality Blast, signalling growing cross-sport pipelines.

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Plunkett Debuts

Liam Plunkett debuted for the Oakland Ballers on June 26, striking out Josh Duarte as the team lost 18-11.
He joined under the league’s “marketing player” clause, said it felt more serious than a ceremonial pitch, and noted he may be the first English cricketer to play professional baseball.
The 2019 Cricket World Cup winner also belongs to the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket but has not played this season.

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