Lions success can putus in Test frame says Livingstone
LIAM Livingstone insists a series win for the England Lions away to Sri Lanka A is the only way to impress new Test captain Joe Root and the England selectors.
Test openers Haseeb Hameed and Keaton Jennings were at the top of the Lions’ order for their warm-up game against the Sri Lanka Board President’s XI with the latter retiring on 49 in the second innings.
But it was Essex’s Tom Westley (95) and Livingstone (84) who got the bulk of the Lions’ runs in the first innings of the drawn match with Nick Gubbins adding his own half century in the second.
And for Lancashire youngster Livingstone, the tour also gives him the chance to show his allround ability, turning his arm over for 14 overs of spin, picking up 1-61 ahead of the two four-day games and five one-day matches.
“I suppose everyone is in the same boat, trying to push their way into the Test team but we are here to win a series,” he told The Cricket Paper.
“The best way of impressing is putting in performances and by winning games and that is what everyone wants to do.
“The warm-up game was good for everyone; everyone got a good bowl and a hit. It was nice to get a few runs and take a wicket as well. All in all, it was a good run out for everyone and people are ready going into the first Test.
“There’s nothing better than going into a series feeling good and being in a good way. I was pleased and felt good.
“Spin is another thing I can bring to the team. I bowl spin into the rough if I get the chance and hopefully I can add to the team and chip in.”
Livingstone had an incredible 2016 season with Lancashire to earn his spot on this tour with the England Lions and has also been rewarded with a new county contract.
The young batsman scored 815 runs in the County Championship at an average of 50.94 – marginally higher than Hameed (49.92) and Alviro Petersen (49.30).
And the 23-year-old admitted that his decision to re-sign at Old Trafford had been a simple one and he’s confident the club, which recently signed Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Dane Vilas, can challenge for silverware this summer.
“It was a pretty easy decision because I don’t want to play anywhere else,” he added.
“I’m really happy to get the contract business sorted and out of the way.
“I want to try and help Lancashire push forward and, hopefully, to build the team with a few of my friends that I have grown up with. It’s exciting times for the club.
“We’ll set out to win as many competitions as we can and we will work as hard as we can to put ourselves in contention. We will be trying hard but we are still a young team and we are still developing.
“I don’t think that’s an excuse not to say we will challenge. We know each other very well so, hopefully, we can get on a roll in the summer.”