Liam Livingstone, a key player in England’s T20I team, is aiming for a return to the One Day International (ODI) squad. Despite being sidelined from the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia, Liam Livingstone remains optimistic about his chances. Liam Livingstone did well in England’s defeat versus Australia in the 1st T20I. He scored 37 runs and picked three wickets. Notably, he was asked to bat at number four.
Liam Livingstone believes he can use promotion in England’s T20I team to pitch his case for a recall to their ODI set-up. England have used Livingstone as a finisher in each of the last three T20 World Cups but he top-scored with 37 from No. 4 in their defeat to Australia at the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday night, having earlier taken 3 for 22 with his leg breaks.
Livingstone’s ODI and T20I batting numbers for England
In ODI’s, Liam Livingstone has amassed 558 runs in 25 matches at an average of 29.36. His highest score is 95* (three fifties).Livingstone has featured in 49 T20Is racking up 728 runs and striking at a rate of 148.26. His highest score is 103. The all-rounder owns one fifty as well. In the most recent T20I against Australia in England’s ongoing tour, the all-rounder managed 37 off 27 balls. He smashed four boundaries and one six during his knock.
Liam Livingstone made a significant impact on his return to the T20I squad after four years, scoring a brilliant 42-ball century against Pakistan in 2021.However, his career has seen ups and downs due to recurring injuries. Despite these challenges, he remains committed to his role in England’s squad .He stated, “I can run around at 100% in the field and I can bowl and bat to the best of my ability.”
Liam Livingstone hasn’t featured in the County Championship for the last two years and England’s leading white-ball players no longer take part in the domestic 50-over competition. His selection for the ODI series in the Caribbean this November hinges on his T20 performance. Notably, England’s Test players are likely to be unavailable. The same applies for his chances of playing in February’s ICC Champions Trophy. Liam Livingstone expressed his determination to continue playing for England despite recent challenges.
31 year old Liam Livingstone eyes ODI comeback after T20I batting promotion
England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has vowed to fight for his place across the white-ball setup, but keeps lucrative overseas opportunities as a cushion to fall back on. The 31-year-old has largely been inconsistent for England, but provides balance to the side with his explosive batting and versatile bowling.
Liam Livingstone was one of the names sacrificed from the England setup for the upcoming ODI series against Australia as they wish for an overhaul following the 2023 ODI World Cup debacle. He has played 25 ODIs, and holds an average of 29.37 with three fifties to his name.
Despite his omission from the ODI squad, he continues to be a huge part in the T20 setup. He donned a new role in the series opener against Australia, batting at No.4, with the likes of Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran handling the lower middle-order. One of the factors that has led to Livingstone’s promotion is his experience. He is the second oldest squad member in the current squad after veteran spinner, Adil Rashid.
The all-rounder, having played 49 T20Is since 2017, is one of the most experienced batters, particularly after Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow’s departure.
Livingstone scored 37 runs off 27 deliveries, and believes he can offer more to the side provided he gets to spend time at the crease. However, he is unsure of his ODI future, which is arguably in a state of limbo.
“I don’t really know – that’s one of my challenges. That’s why I’m happy that I’ve got an opportunity to bat up the order [in the T20Is]. I feel like I’ve shown over the last couple of weeks, maybe a month, that the longer I get to bat in games, the more of a chance I have to affect games,” Livingstone told media ahead of the second T20I against Australia.
“I feel like I’ve done that in 50-over cricket as well: if you take away the World Cup, I feel like I’d done that further down the order. But it is what it is: I’m 31, I’m not going to sit here and cry about not being picked. There’s plenty of cricket to be played around the world, and if I’m not involved in the ODI stuff then there’s plenty more opportunities,” he added.
With not much 50-over action available in the international or domestic circuit for Livingstone to prove himself, he may only have his T20 exploits to show for if he wishes to be part of the squad for the India ODI tour and the subsequent 2025 Champions Trophy.
“It’s up to me to make sure I try to do as well as I can and give them a bit of a headache for the next series” – Livingstone
After having impressed in his role at No.4, and making a significant contribution with the ball with his three-fer, Livingstone will be hoping for more of the same in the remainder of the series.
“It’s up to me to make sure I try to do as well as I can and give them a bit of a headache for the next series. “I don’t think you’ll see anybody that wants to bat lower down the order,” Livingstone added
“I want that responsibility. I want to try to win games of cricket for England, and the higher up the order, the more chance you have of doing that. There’s less people that can play that role [at No. 6] and sometimes you’ve got to take it on the chin… [but] this is a chance for me to stake my claim,” he concluded
Livingstone has some credible form under his belt, having had a relatively solid season for the Birmingham Phoenix in the 2024 Hundred. The all-rounder will be seen in action next during the second T20I against Australia on Friday, September 13 at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.