England all-rounder Liam Livingstone admitted that a knee injury left him in a tough spot at the end of his IPL 2024 stint with the Punjab Kings. Liam Livingstone also revealed that the persistent niggle over the past 18 months had dampened his enjoyment of the game.
Liam Livingstone’s journey began in domestic cricket with Lancashire in 2015. While he wasn’t a regular fixture initially, his explosive batting and potential as an off-spin bowler started gaining recognition. Livingstone’s international career began with a T20 debut against South Africa in 2017. However, it was 2021 that marked a turning point. He returned to the national side and smashed a record-breaking century against Pakistan in just 42 balls, becoming the fastest century scorer for England in T20 internationals at the time. Livingstone’s talent was showcased during the victorious 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign for England. While his individual contribution wasn’t overwhelming, he was vital to the championship-winning squad. Soon after, he received his maiden Test call-up against Pakistan. Unfortunately, his debut was cut short due to a knee injury.
Livingstone returned home from IPL 2024, opting out of the final two matches to address his knee concerns before the T20 World Cup. Despite a less-than-ideal campaign in the lucrative league, the 30-year-old managed 111 runs and three wickets in seven matches. Speaking after England’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fourth T20I on Thursday, May 30, the hard-hitting batter expressed relief after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection, stating that it has allowed him to smile again.
What Liam Livingstone Said
He said to ESPNcricinfo,
“It’s not been the most enjoyable 18 months of trying to play with a niggle. It kind of drains your spirit, drains your enjoyment of cricket. I was in a pretty crap place at the end of the IPL… thankfully, the injection seems to have worked and just being able to play cricket pain-free for the first time in two years is the exciting part for me.
“I feel like I’ve got a smile on my face again, and I’m enjoying playing cricket.”
Despite playing only 12 matches across 120 World Cup appearances, the spin-bowling all-rounder’s impressive performance against Pakistan bodes well for him. He delivered figures of 1/9 in Birmingham and 2/17 in London, showcasing his bowling prowess.
Livingstone had minimal opportunities to bat during the four-match series against Pakistan, facing just three balls. He acknowledged that the chance to play a substantial innings might only arise in the event of a collapse in England’s top order.
He added,
“I love coming back to play for England because Jos [Buttler] and Motty [Matthew Mott] really trust my bowling, which not many people do in different competitions. It’s a difficult role batting at No. 7: I faced three balls in this series and may not face a ball until we get out there and we’re 60 for 5, so I’ve got to try and contribute in a different way.”
England will kick off their T20 World Cup campaign against Scotland on Tuesday, June 4, in Barbados.
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