ICC T20 World Cup 2022: Fit-Again All-rounder Liam Livingstone In Line To Stake England Claim In Warm-up Game vs Pakistan

The 29-year-old England National Cricket Team explosive batter Liam Livingstone could be picked ahead of Harry Brook in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2022 opener against Afghanistan if can prove his fitness in the warm-up game against Pakistan.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 commenced on October 16 with the group stage matches. The Super 12 round will commence on October 22 and the final is set to take place on November 13 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

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On Saturday, October 22, Group 1 teams – Jos Buttler-led England National Cricket Team and Mohammad Nabi-led Afghanistan National Cricket Team – will go head-to-head at the Perth Stadium.

Ahead of their T20 World Cup 2022 opener, England National Cricket Team will play a warm-up game against Pakistan National Cricket Team in Brisbane on Monday, October 17.

Liam Livingstone has not played since August 23 after suffering ankle ligament damage following an innocuous trip on a kerb. He is expected to return to action in the warm-up game against Pakistan.

If the 29-year-old is fully fit and performs well in the warm-up game, he might be slotted directly into England playing XI for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, given his knowledge of Australian conditions after two seasons with Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. Also, he brings a handy spin bowling with him.

On the other hand, Brook’s performance has not been highly impressive in Australia as he has scored just 57 runs in nine innings.

What Motty and Jos have put together and the way we’re going about our business is brilliant – David Willey

England National Cricket Team left-arm pacer David Willey has said that there is healthy competition in the team and the team environment is great.

“It’s a great dressing room to be a part of. As a collective we’re in a great place and the good thing is it’s healthy competition, everybody wants each other to do well. The environment’s great, what Motty and Jos have put together and the way we’re going about our business is brilliant. We’re back playing good cricket,” he said as quoted by Cricket.365.

“Obviously we weren’t very good in the summer back home but we’ve had a fair bit of cricket for the lads to find the form, so I think everyone’s in a pretty good space.”

While talking about the warm-up against Pakistan Willey said that “We could do without it to be honest.”

David Willey, who made the way for Jofra Archer in the England playing XI ahead of the 2019 World Cup where England won the trophy on home soil, further said:

“You want to be playing in that first XI. We wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t our mindset but anything can happen in these competitions and I’m sure there will be opportunities.

“Ultimately we want to win a World Cup and whoever takes the field the lads will be right behind them. It would be pretty magical to win this one having missed out in 2019.

“When you think you might be finished (with England) I came back and said ‘all I want to do is enjoy every game I play’ and I don’t know if that’s taken the pressure off me or anything but whenever I take to the field now I play every game as if it’s going to be my last.”

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