Livingstone gets England call-up
LIAM Livingstone has been named in England’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand.
It rounds off a remarkable few months for the 24-year-old batsman, who was named new Lancashire captain in November.
Since then he has impressed while with the England Lions in Australia, and has now won a place in the Test squad for the first time.
“It is a huge honour to have been named in the England Test squad for the first time. Test cricket is the pinnacle and something that every player works towards throughout their career,” said Livingstone, who is joined in the squad for the twoTest series by Lancashire team-mate Jimmy Anderson.
“As a kid I always wanted to play Test cricket for England and I’m determined to take my chance if I get an opportunity in New Zealand.
“I had a taste of what it’s like to play for England in the T20 series against South Africa last summer, but 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.”
Livingstone, who scored 803 County Championship runs last season including a career-high 224 against Warwickshire, has been impressing the England hierarchy for some time, according to national selector James Whitaker.
He said: “Liam has been a player we have been impressed with for quite some time, having performed well in the county system with Lancashire and over the past couple of years with the England Lions.
“He is a very talented and tough cricketer who has the ideal qualities and character to be successful in the Test arena.
“During the recent Lions tour of Australia, he was a standout performer and showed a lot of maturity in his attitude and put in some strong performances.
“We are particularly impressed with the way he bats against spin and is equally adept against the seamers.
“Liam is also highly regarded at his county Lancashire.”
Livingstone, who has only played 31 first-class games, came through the Academy and Scholarship programmes at Lancashire, and is one of five Red Rose players also going on the Lions tour to the West Indies next month.
“It is fantastic news,” said Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple. “He is a highly talented batsman and has shown that over the last two years while playing first-class cricket.
“To average over 50 in the County Championship batting at three shows the technique and temperament he has.
“It’s great news for the club too and credit must go to the Lancashire pathway and age-group system. It follows on from Haseeb Hameed’s England debut in India in 2016 as well as having five Academy graduates – including Livingstone – in the England Lions squad for the West Indies tour in February and March.”
RED ROSE SKIPPER IS NAMED IN TEST SQUAD FOR NZ TOUR