LIVINGSTONE TAKES ON KIWIS

LANCASHIRE all-rounder Liam Livingstone is the only new face picked for the two-Test tour to New Zealand in March.

Pace bowler Mark Wood also returns to the squad on his recovery from injury, with Ben Stokes picked with his now customary police-related asterisk. It means Gary Ballance, Jake Ball and Tom Curran have all been axed from the beaten Ashes squad, while James Vince and Mark Stoneman are given a further chance to impress.

“It is a huge honour to have been named in the England Test squad for the first time,” said Livingstone, 24, who played international T20 cricket last summer. “Test match cricket is the pinnacle and something that every player works towards throughout their career. “To pull on the Three Lions in a Test shirt would be a dream come true. I’m so excited to get out there and show what I can do.”

Vince (left), who is now playing for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash, will continue at No.3 and hope to do better than in the Ashes series.

“There are still areas I’m trying to improve on and need to iron out,” said Vince. “But I feel I made good progress and if I can get a big score, I can give myself that confidence to kick on and become a regular.

“I got myself out a few times and it’s all about trying to make the bowlers work hard for my wicket.”

Squad: Root, Moeen Ali, Anderson, Bairstow, Broad, Cook, Crane, Foakes, Livingstone, Malan, Overton, Stokes, Stoneman, Vince, Woakes, Wood.