INTERVIEW: Liam Livingstone discusses red ball return
Lancashire Cricket all-rounder Liam Livingstone says he wants to “try and influence the game” in the County Championship, as he prepares for his first red ball game for Lancs since 2021.
The Red Rose superstar has been in sensational form in the Vitality Blast, scoring 81 and 85* in his last two innings, and will now make an exciting return to County Championship cricket.
It has been over five years since he last stepped foot into the domestic red ball arena. But, amidst an injury crisis, a call from captain Sir James Anderson and head coach Steven Croft persuaded Livingstone to pull on the whites once more.
“I don’t think I’d be playing if everybody was fit, to be perfectly honest. But Jimmy asked, and if I was ever going to play for anyone, Jimmy and Crofty are probably my top two people.
“Hopefully I can try and help out and, like I have done tonight [with his 85* against Durham in the Blast] try and influence the game, probably in a slightly different way in red ball cricket. It’s a challenge. It’s very different, it’s something I haven’t done for a long while, so what have I got to lose?”
A Lancashire man through and through, Livingstone emphasized that he wants to give back to the Red Rose after how much the club have helped him over the years.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of injuries. The club have given me a lot, so it’s nice to, sort of, give back and try and help out.
“I think it’s good for me, it’s good for my game. I’ve complained over the last few years about not being able to get into a rhythm, not having time in the middle to bat, having batted lower down the order, so here’s my chance to have some time in the middle.”
The Barrow-born all-rounder boasts a good County Championship record. Livingstone has scored 2630 runs scored at an average of 39.25 with five centuries, as well as taking 29 wickets with one five-wicket haul.
Yet, he admitted that this return to the format is a step into the unknown after so many years away.
“I don’t really know how it’s going to go. I haven’t had loads of time to prepare for it, I’ll have one training session on Thursday and straight in Friday. I can’t stand here and say I’m, really prepared for it, but it is what it is. I feel like I’m batting as well as I probably ever have, I feel like I’m in really good nick.”
His return will certainly be a pleasant surprise for Lancashire fans. Livingstone thought his first-class days were behind him, but it’s an opportunity he is ready for.
“I also see it as a challenge that I want to try and take on. Let’s start with these next two games and see what’s what. You never know what happens, I may not get picked up in the IPL next year and I can play the full start of the season, I don’t know.
“You never know what is going to happen. I won’t look too far ahead but let’s start with these two games and go from there.”
Livingstone and the rest of his teammates will be in action in the County Championship this Friday at Blackpool Cricket Club against Kent.
“See you there” said the Red Rose superstar.
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