That is fairly some turnaround for Liam Livingstone.
After initially being dropped by England for September’s one-day internationals towards Australia, he now finds himself captaining his nation towards West Indies in the identical format.
Jos Buttler’s calf harm – an ongoing situation which means the common white-ball skipper has not performed an innings since June – has dominated him out of the three 50-over video games within the Caribbean, the primary of which takes place in Antigua on Thursday (6pm UK and Eire).
Due to this fact, Livingstone is on the wheel on a short lived foundation. A Ruud van Nistelrooy determine, if you’ll, though as a Blackburn Rovers supporter he could choose to be in comparison with Tony Parkes.
Harry Brook stood in for Buttler throughout the Australia ODIs however has simply completed a Check sequence in Pakistan and is now making ready for one in New Zealand, so is just not out within the Caribbean.
With England’s ODI squad for this project so inexperienced – 4 gamers (Jafer Chohan, Michael Pepper, John Turner and Dan Mousley) haven’t performed any worldwide cricket, whereas some others (together with Jacob Bethell and Jordan Cox) so little – Livingstone was one of many few captaincy candidates, in all probability alongside batter Phil Salt and fellow all-rounder Sam Curran.
“It’s not every day someone tells you you’re going to be England captain. It’s an incredibly proud thing for me,” Livingstone, 31, stated after going from chopped to in cost in a matter of weeks.
“It’s my job as an experienced player to help these guys along and make them as comfortable as possible in this environment.
“I need the following few video games to be a hell of a number of enjoyable, play some good cricket, win some video games after which hand the reins again to Jos.”
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Watch Livingstone’s T20 half-century towards Australia
It was really T20 worldwide cricket – the format wherein he thumped England’s quickest hundred, off simply 42 balls, towards Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2021 – that offered Livingstone’s avenue again into the 50-over group.
Knocks of 37 from 27 balls after which 87 from 37 in T20s towards Australia final month whereas batting at No 4, coupled with Buttler’s continued harm absence, noticed him added to the ODI group and he went on to play all 5 matches batting at No 6.
Round two geese and a rating of 13, he smoked an unbeaten 33 from 20 balls in Durham after which 67 from 27 at Lord’s, with these innings serving to England to victory on each events.
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Livingstone hit the quickest ODI half-century at Lord’s, from 25 balls, towards Australia in September
‘I really feel like the most effective of me continues to be to return’
“Being left out is all part of professional sport. I sat down with Rob Key [managing director of men’s cricket], had a really honest conversation with him and said, ‘all I want is another opportunity and hopefully I can prove you wrong’.
“Within the sequence towards Australia, I actually felt I did that. I am in a really totally different place to the place I used to be six or 12 months in the past, I really feel like a child, like I am virtually in the beginning of a brand new profession.
“I feel like the best of me is still to come.”
Livingstone has lived a weird England existence, typically batting in a decrease middle-order spot and charged with teeing off from ball one, whereas then serving as a part-time bowler round frontline spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, the latter of whom has now retired.
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Livingstone introduced out a football-inspired celebration after dismissing Australia’s Steve Smith this summer time
That has made it onerous for him to impression video games commonly however he needs an even bigger position now and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see whether or not he strikes even increased up the batting order than No 6 towards West Indies, with no Buttler, Brook, Ben Duckett or Jamie Smith.
Solely twice in his 30 ODIs has Livingstone batted above No 6. Solely twice has he confronted over 50 deliveries.
“I’ve always said I know I’m good enough to play for England but maybe I needed more responsibility than I was getting. I don’t think I got that for the last two years,” he added.
Livingstone is keen to take extra duty within the England facet
“If you’re batting seven and only bowling a couple of overs a game it becomes quite a difficult role for someone who wants to be involved.
“I really feel I’ve labored a number of issues out with my batting and had a very good finish to the summer time.
“Now I’m excited to get a bat back in my hand and prove that I’m a better player than someone who bats at seven. I believe I can do more damage if I face 60 balls rather than 20.”
West Indies vs England schedule (all instances UK and Eire)
- First ODI: Antigua – Thursday October 31 (6pm)
- Second ODI: Antigua – Saturday November 2 (1.30pm)
- Third ODI: Barbados – Wednesday November 6 (6pm)
- First T20: Barbados – Saturday November 9 (8pm)
- Second T20: Barbados – Sunday November 10 (8pm)
- Third T20: St Lucia – Thursday November 14 (8pm)
- Fourth T20: St Lucia – Saturday November 16 (8pm)
- Fifth T20: St Lucia – Sunday November 17 (8pm)
Observe England’s white-ball tour of West Indies throughout Sky Sports activities‘ digital platforms with stay blogs and stories.
