"I'm 31, I'm not going to sit here and cry about not being picked" - Liam Livingstone embraces overseas opportunities if ODI comeback plans fail
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.
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.