Incredible Liam’s up for cup, says Colly

England 2nd T20, Headingley, 1pm

IF there were places up for grabs for a place in England’s World Cup T20 squad before this series, then there is now one less.

Liam Livingstone’s (above) brutal onslaught against Pakistan in a losing cause on Friday night has seen to that.

The Lancashire man’s 42-ball hundred was a record for England in T20 cricket.

And according to Paul Collingwood, who is taking care of England for this three-match series against Pakistan in the absence of regular coach Chris Silverwood, it was one of the best by an England player in white-ball cricket.

With just two more matches before England name that World Cup squad, Livingstone’s name has been pencilled in.

But after Friday’s pyrotechnics, the England selectors must be surely tempted to ink it in already.

“He’s put his hand up, it’s as simple as that — you can’t do any more than what he’s done,” said Collingwood. “He’s got two more opportunities over the next two games.

“It’s very hard not to pick a guy if he’s played like that.

“I think the innings he played is as exciting as we’ve seen in an English shirt for some time.

“It was incredible to watch in person but, you know, I’m sure as all English fans, it’s exciting to think how powerful that batting unit could be with someone like him in it.

“You think you’ve got a real powerful unit there and then Liam does something like that.

“It’s adding something special — that is a scary batting line-up.”

Livingstone already has big-match experience in T20 cricket, having spent time in the Indian Premier League, Pakistan Super League and Australia’s Big Bash.

Before this summer, though, he had struggled to establish himself in England’s long-term white-ball plans. Friday night changed all that. Livingstone’s clean hitting in an innings which contained an incredible nine sixes has suddenly turned him from a long shot for a World Cup place to a sure-fire certainty.

The only disappointment for England was that his heroics came in a losing cause, with Pakistan winning the match by 31 runs after posting an imposing 232-6.

After losing early wickets, not even Livingstone’s power hitting was enough to get England over the line.

The 27-year-old is, however, more than just a hitting machine. The all-rounder also possesses the rare talent of being able to spin the ball both ways

— a priceless gift in the sport’s shortest format, as former World T20-winning England captain Collingwood acknowledges.

“It’s not just his power hitting, it’s also what he

gives with the ball,” he said. “He’s very much a modern T20 cricketer.

“He can bowl leg-spin and off-spin, depending on whether he’s bowling against right or left-handed batsmen, and he’s an exceptional fielder.

“As an overall package, these are the kind of players that you want.”

Now one down, England will need to win the remaining matches of the series to maintain their formidable record in white ball cricket, starting with today’s match at Headingley.

If Livingstone is in the mood, then the spectators might have more than sunburn to worry about.

Given the hot streak he is on, there could be plenty more balls flying off his bat and into the crowd.

It’s very hard not to pick a guy when he’s played like that