Livi: We have cover for injured Roy
BY DAVID CHARLESWORTH
LIAM Livingstone is thankful England have a number of top-order options but accepts they will miss Jason Roy’s combative influence ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.
Roy has made 123 runs in five innings, but a torn left calf has brought his involvement in the tournament to a premature end.
It is as yet unclear how England will rejig their line-up but Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan have experience of batting high up in T20s and are in contention to open alongside Jos Buttler today.
Livingstone is well aware Roy embodies an England white-ball game on and play really positive cricket,” said the Lancashire star. “Jason is at the forefront of that.
“He goes out and imposes himself on the opposition from ball one. We will miss that from Jason, but thankfully we have great depth in our squad and whoever comes in will bring a lot of experience and skill into the team.
“It’s a massive shame for Jason, he’s obviously been pretty devastated over the last couple of days, but the mood in the camp is really good, the boys are really relaxed.
“We have a great opportunity to try and work our way into a World Cup final. It’s T20, it’s very unpredictable. We have a great opportunity, it’s all about the lads embracing that.”
The flourishing partnership between Roy and Buttler has limited time at the crease for those in the middle order, although Livingstone stood out in England’s final group game against South Africa.
“We’re in an entertainment business so I guess crowds want to see big sixes – it’s certainly something we train hard for,” Livingstone added. “It was nice to get some time in the middle, and to get back to that feeling of batting in a game.”