LIAM PLUNKETT has revealed the demanding winter fitness schedule which will leave him in peak physical condition in time for a hectic year of cricket with Yorkshire and England in 2015.

The former Durham fast bowling all-rounder missed the latter stages of the most recent summer with an ankle injury, but he is expected to be fully fit to take his place on the England Performance Programme trip to South Africa next month.

Plunkett, 29-years-old, is currently in America, where he owns a house with his American partner Emeleah, and he hopes to secure his place on the England Lions tour of South Africa after Christmas and then the full Test tour to the West Indies in April.

The Middlesbrough-born player’s career has been reignited whilst at Headingley during the last two seasons, and he is recognised as one of the world’s fittest cricketers by his White Rose team-mates.

“I take pride in my fitness massively,” said Plunkett, who admitted recently that he hopes to play county cricket until the age of 40.

“I try to look at it like an athlete would. Early on in the day, I’ll probably do some running, then have lunch, then do a strength session and then at 7pm or 8pm, I’ll do a fat burning session.

“I’ll do that for about a month and have a Sunday off, and I feel like that gets me bowling quick.

"When I first joined Yorkshire, I was the fittest in the squad and did well. Last year, I upped my performance. I will try and do the same this year and improve.

“It’s just about being smart because I shouldn’t be running as much as I used to. Maybe I will do an extra swimming session instead of a running session. I should be putting all my running effort towards my cricket.

“Whereas a lot of other players get told to do more fitness work, I get told to hold back.

“I want to play cricket for as long as I can. That’s why I stay fit. I want to give it a good go and see where I get to with England, put all my cards on the table in a sense.”

Plunkett took 18 wickets and scored 112 runs in four Test matches against Sri Lanka and India during the most recent summer having returned to England colours following seven years away.

He also took 24 wickets and scored 209 runs in seven LV= County Championship matches for champions Yorkshire.