LIAM PLUNKETT has not given up hope of returning to the Test Match arena with England.

The Yorkshire fast bowler is central to England's plans in one-day and T20 cricket having made himself into one of the world's best short form bowlers.

But he has no plans to concentrate purely on the white ball, as the likes of Adil Rashid, Alex Hales and New Zealand's Colin Munro have done recently.

The 32-year-old former Durham paceman played the last of his 13 Tests in the summer of 2014, though there were calls for him to be included in England's Ashes squad over the winter.

Speaking from Yorkshire's pre-season tour camp in Potchefstroom, he said: "I love playing white ball cricket, both for England and Yorkshire. But I also still feel like I benefit from playing red ball cricket and can offer to the team. I feel like I can help win games for Yorkshire.

"If you start (the summer) and get five-fors and get runs, look a million dollars, you never know. There may be that chance to go back and play Test cricket.

"I feel like I'm in my prime and at my most skilful. I still love playing the four-day stuff.

"I came to Yorkshire, and they took a bet on me when I was struggling a bit. They've been great to me."

The news will be music to the ears of White Rose fans - as will Plunkett's comments regarding his fitness.

He is stepping up his recovery from a hamstring injury - one which badly affected his limited overs commitments with England in Australia and New Zealand from late January onwards.

The opening County Championship match against champions Essex at Emerald Headingley, starting on April 13, is very much on his radar.

"I feel in a good place," he said. "I've done as much as I can in terms of strength. I've had two good open net sessions, where I've bowled six overs. I'm still building up, but hopefully I'll be flying by the time we get home."

Plunkett did play a part in Yorkshire's two-day game with Nottinghamshire earlier this week, but only as a sub fielder.

"It's been a good start. Young Brooky got runs, and the guys looked good with the ball," he said.

"I've not been around too much this winter, and it's nice to see how much people have come on. The lads have been grafting hard indoors, and you could tell they were keen to get outside."

Young players like Harry Brook and Ben Coad have added to the fierce competition for places at Yorkshire. Coad enjoyed a stellar breakthrough year with 50 Championship wickets in 2017, while Brook started this tour with 154 against Notts.

"That's the good thing about having good squads, you have a good second team and a good academy," continued Plunkett.

"Luckily enough with Yorkshire, for the last four or five years, we've done well. So people who want to be in that first team need to be at a certain level. When you're netting with senior lads, you step up and get better. That just shows. The lads are stepping up.

"Coady did it last year, and someone else will this - hopefully a couple will."

Plunkett is no stranger to Potchefstroom and its benefits for squads. He has toured here with England Lions and previously their fast bowling programme. He was keen to come again with Yorkshire, despite coming towards the end of a busy winter away.

He said: "You want to be part of the squad, out here training. You don't want to be stuck at home indoors.

"To come here, the place where we're staying was built for Spain in the (football) World Cup. There's an Olympic pool and gym, cricket ground, running track, it's at altitude with the weather.

"To see all the athletes train, it sort of inspires you. It's a great place to be. I love South Africa, everything about it."

Having suffered his fair share of injuries, Plunkett is all too aware of the benefits of Yorkshire's players being outdoors at this time of year.

He added: "You can bowl five or 10 overs in the nets, but you haven't got that endurance from fielding. A day in the dirt, as we call it. You need to do that and come back and bowl again and keep building it up. It's like you do in the gym or when you go for a run. You start small and build up.

"It's crucial otherwise you pick up little injuries. You never want them, especially at this time of year."