New Delhi: Injury free after two years, England all-rounder Liam Livingstone thinks he has got a second wing to his career after an ankle ligament damage and then a knock on knee sidelined him for long.
He was a member of England’s 2022 T20 World Cup winning campaign after shaking off the ankle ligament issue but then picked up the knee complaint weeks later during their Test in Pakistan.
Since then he has struggled to reach peak fitness and has not been included in England current ODI squad but is part of their T20I squad for the ongoing three-match 20-over series against Australia.
England lost the first match by 28 runs though the 31-year-old Livingstone took 3/22 and scored 37 off 27 balls.
“I feel like a little kid again, I feel like I’m starting a new career to be honest. Life with niggles is not very fun,” he said, as quoted by AFP.
“Mentally, more than anything, it feels really nice to be back playing cricket pain-free and I think, if I get back to my best, I feel like I’m an asset to any cricket team I play in.
“I’m back playing cricket with a smile on my face, that’s when I play at my best. Fingers crossed it stays that way for a while.”
Eyeing return to ODI team
While he has a reputation of being a ‘finisher’ in white-ball cricket, generally batting lower down the order at the end of matches but was promoted to the number four spot on Wednesday in Southampton.
Livingstone is ready to battle for the ODI spot and said consistent performances could open the doors of the 50-over format for him.
“Series like these where you get an opportunity further up the order, it’s a chance for me to stake my claim,” he said.
“I guess winning games of T20 cricket for England may enhance my chances of getting back into the one-day team. But it is what it is, I’m 31, I’m not going to sit here and cry about not being picked.”
England lost the first match by 28 runs though the 31-year-old Liam Livingstone took 3/22 and scored 37 off 27 balls. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
