LIAM Plunkett is fighting fit and has found some encouraging form in the early stages of a hectic 2015.

The Yorkshire fast bowling all-rounder, who did not play any competitive cricket in 2014 beyond mid-July due to an ankle injury, is currently with the England Lions on their four-day and one-day tour of South Africa.

Plunkett impressed in the Lions' drawn two-match Test series against a strong South Africa A side with seven wickets and a half-century.

He then returned 1-23 and hit a crucial 22 not out in a low-scoring one-day win on Sunday, the first of five matches.

With 17 senior England Test matches and a host of one-day internationals scheduled this year – as well as Yorkshire's Championship title defence – there is no better time for Plunkett to be hitting his straps.

"I feel in decent all-round form, although I still think I can go up a gear," he said.

"I don't think I've bowled as quick as I can reach yet but hopefully that will happen in these one-day games.

"I've managed to pick up a few wickets – I think I got the most of anyone in the four-day games.

"To come here – difficult conditions and a tough team we were playing against with some Test cricketers in there – has been good competition.

"I'm happy I got through with no issues around my injury from last summer. There's a lot of Test cricket coming up and injuries do occur, so you need to be ready as a player to take that chance when it comes."

Although 29-year-old Plunkett made his return to Test cricket last summer following seven years away, he is yet to break back into England's one-day team. It is a format he is keen to play in.

"I've not played too much one-day cricket in the last 12 months or so," he said.

"I only played a couple of T20s for Yorkshire last summer because of the Tests and stuff, so it's going to be an exciting few weeks, and hopefully I can push my game forward and impress."