Huge-hitting all-rounder Liam Livingstone says he is relishing the added accountability as he hopes to cement a high order spot with the bat in England’s T20 staff.
Livingstone was the primary vibrant spark in an in any other case disappointing England show as they suffered a 28-run defeat to Australia of their T20 sequence opener in Southampton on Wednesday.
Livingstone took 3-22 in his three overs of spin earlier than top-scoring for the hosts with 37 off 27 balls when batting greater up the order at No 4 in a youthful aspect that featured three debutants.
“I want to try and win games of cricket for England. And I think the higher up the order, the more chance you have of doing that,” Livingstone stated after the series-opening defeat.
“I suppose that is why a sequence like this, the place you get a possibility additional up the order, it is an opportunity for me to state my case.
“It’s up to me to make sure I try and do as well as I can and give them a bit of a headache for the next series coming up. That’s my job the next two games.”
At 31 years previous and with 75 mixed caps throughout all three codecs for England, Livingstone is likely one of the extra senior members of England’s squad named for this T20 sequence.
If chosen on Friday for the second T20 worldwide in Cardiff, it will likely be his fiftieth T20I cap.
“I guess I’ve got a role in this team that feels weird… I feel really old, so I’ve got to give the younger boys a bit more of a steer, take a bit of pressure off them. And I enjoy the responsibility,” Livingstone stated.
“There’s a bit of a fresh look, a fresh environment. Things have felt different, like a new beginning.
“And I suppose the problem for us now as a bunch is to try to rise up to hurry as rapidly as we are able to, and form of not use that altering of the guard as an excuse.
“We’ve got to get up to speed and take the Aussies on. There’s a lot to play for in this series, and we’ve got every faith that we can turn it around.”
Livingstone: I am again taking part in with smile on my face
Livingstone has not been chosen for the five-match ODI sequence which follows the T20 leg of Australia’s tour.
Whereas disenchanted to overlook out, the 2022 T20 World Cup winner with England stated he’s simply glad to be match and having fun with his cricket once more after persistent harm bother off the again of that event.
“Unfortunately, I won’t be playing in the ODIs, but it’s still not something I’m giving up on,” he stated.
“Body-wise has probably let me down a little bit, and maybe I haven’t been up to scratch physically with a couple of niggles here and there.
“I did my ankle simply earlier than the [2022] World Cup, rushed again to get match for it, which then led to me injuring my knee within the Check stuff [his debut versus Pakistan that winter].
“I guess when I look back, I don’t really have any regrets… if I didn’t rush my ankle back as quickly as I did, I wouldn’t be sat here as a World Cup winner.
“I reckon it has matured me loads over the past two years, and it makes you respect when issues begin to get somewhat bit higher and are somewhat extra pleasing.”
He added: “From the beginning of The Hundred, I reckon it is nearly as good as I have been for an extended whereas.
“I can run around 100 per cent in the field, and I can bowl and bat to the best of my ability, which is something I probably haven’t been able to do for two and a half years.
“I am again taking part in cricket with a smile on my face. That is once I play at my greatest. And fingers crossed, it stays that approach for some time.”
Watch England vs Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket this September as the sides meet in three T20 internationals and five one-day internationals.
The second T20I is at Sophia Gardens on Friday September 13 with coverage from 6pm ahead of the first ball at 6.30pm. Additionally stream with NOW.