Oakland fans visiting Raimondi Park this summer have seen something unusual: former England fast bowler Liam Plunkett leaning over the Ballers’ dugout and taking live swings at an independent league game. The 41-year-old, better known for international cricket, has made brief pitching appearances for the Oakland Ballers while in town to broadcast Major League Cricket’s stop at the Coliseum.
Plunkett, a one-time player with the San Francisco Unicorns, was signed to the Ballers under a marketing exception and has made two public appearances so far. He threw once in June, facing a single batter and recording a strikeout. Team and league officials say the move is intended to raise awareness of cricket locally as the sport prepares for a return to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
What this means for Oakland residents
For local sports fans, the appearances offer a chance to see a well-known international cricketer in a local setting and to watch cross-sport exhibition play at Raimondi Park. For youth and community organizers, Plunkett’s presence includes outreach: he is scheduled to host youth clinics this summer, part of an effort to grow interest in cricket among younger players in the Bay Area.
- Local games: Plunkett has taken part in Ballers games at Raimondi Park.
- Major League Cricket: He is in Oakland in a broadcasting role for MLC’s events at the Coliseum, including the league championship.
- Youth outreach: Plunkett will host several youth clinics aimed at promoting cricket.
Major League Cricket CEO Johnny Grave described the appearance as an experiment that surprised even the player. Grave said he supported the idea as a way to generate local interest in cricket, especially ahead of the sport’s Olympic return. Ballers manager Aaron Miles approved the arrangement after co-founders proposed the stunt as fan-friendly entertainment.
"At first I wanted to be respectful and put it down the middle so he could hit it, not throw something wild,"
Plunkett offered that line after his mound outing, adding that he expected to give up a hit but chose instead to use his experience to mix pitches. In that June appearance he topped out at about 77 mph on the radar gun and spun a breaking pitch measured near 63 mph. Statistically, his competitive baseball ERA currently stands at 0.00—based on a single recorded appearance.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Age | 41 |
| Height | 6-foot-4 |
| Top recorded pitch speed | 77 mph |
| Breaking ball speed | 63 mph |
| Baseball ERA (to date) | 0.00 |
Officials stress that Plunkett’s appearances are largely promotional; he is nearing the end of his competitive cricket career and is acting as an ambassador for the sport. The exhibition also serves Major League Cricket’s goal of building youth participation and awareness in U.S. cities ahead of the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
For Oakland residents, the short-term effects are tangible: extra attention on local baseball events at Raimondi Park, opportunities to attend youth cricket clinics, and the chance to see cross-sport moments that underscore the Bay Area’s growing role as a hub for cricket activity in the United States.
