Liam Livingstone prioritises his strike-rate and volume of sixes over time-honoured indicators of success such as averages and milestones.
The England all-rounder’s swashbuckling 103 against Pakistan in July 2021 remains the only time he has passed 50 in 36 T20s although he frequently has to hit the ground running in the middle-order.
An average of 22.29 might seem underwhelming but Livingstone’s focus on strike-rates – his is 147.79 which is the highest of any England batter with at least 20 innings – represents the changing attitudes to batting in T20 cricket.
A cameo 30 off 18 balls kept England on course to chase down 223 against the West Indies on Saturday, underpinned by Phil Salt’s unbeaten century, and Livingstone will continue to bat with a bullish tempo.
“I couldn’t tell you how many fifties or hundreds I score any more,” Livingstone said. “It’s all about how many games that you can impact and winning games for your team. I’d much rather get 30 off 18 balls than 50 off 40 balls.
“Your strike-rate is something that you pride yourself on. In previous walks of life you’d probably have a bigger eye on your average. Nowadays I’m all about sixes per game and my strike-rate.
“Milestones are actually pretty meaningless in T20 cricket, it’s all about how you can affect the game and how you can win games.
“It was unbelievable for Salty to get a hundred but I think he’ll be much more pleased he’s seen an England team over the line by hitting sixes than getting a hundred for England.”
After averaging 10 in England’s doomed defence of their World Cup crown, Livingstone has passed double figures in all three T20s against the Windies but his innings in Grenada on Saturday was his highest.
Ahead of the penultimate match in Trinidad on Tuesday, Livingstone wants to have more of a decisive influence on proceedings as England bid to overturn a 2-1 series deficit in a region which is co-hosting next year’s T20 World Cup.
“Hopefully I’m back on an upward curve with my batting which has probably been on a downward curve for the last couple of months,” he said.
“I’ve felt really good in this series, really clear and like I’m heading in the right direction. With two games left hopefully one of them I can go on, get a big score and win a game for England.
“The best thing for us is it feels like from the start of the series to where we are now, we feel like we’re learning. I feel like we’ve taken a big step forward and ultimately that’s what we want to do.
“Obviously we want to win this series but there’s a World Cup coming up. There’s a lot of focus on that and hopefully these next two games can give us a lot of confidence.”
Livingstone will represent Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League next year after being retained by the franchise but several of his team-mates are up for grabs in Wednesday’s auction in Dubai.
The eight-hour time difference between the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean means the England players on this tour who have entered the auction – such as Harry Brook and Adil Rashid – could be fast asleep when their names go under the hammer.
“I guess Brooky, being a Yorkshireman, he’s pretty tight, he’ll probably be right up at 4am hoping that he gets a few quid,” Livingstone said with a chuckle.
“But some of the boys will get picked up and I’m sure there’ll be a laugh on the way to the game.”
Guyana to host inaugural Global Cricket League in November 2024
Guyana is set to make history this year with the launch of the inaugural Global Cricket League, a premier T20 tournament scheduled from November 26 to December 7, 2024. The event, which will take place annually, will feature five established T20 teams from five different countries, including the home team, the Guyana Amazon Warriors, competing for a significant prize fund of USD $1 million. This tournament marks South America’s first standalone cricket event and is expected to become a major fixture in the global cricket calendar.
Sanctioned by Cricket West Indies and fully supported by the Government of Guyana, the Global Cricket League aims to attract top cricket talent and fans from around the world. The tournament will be held at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence, featuring 11 matches in a mini-league format. Each team will play four matches, with the top two advancing to the final, promising intense competition throughout.
His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and its significance for the nation.
"The Global Super League has the full support of the Government of Guyana as we build a world-class sports tourism product. Cricket is part of our cultural history; it is that unifying force, part of our heritage, and an integral part of our strategic objective in economic diversification with a strong emphasis on tourism. As Guyana positions itself as a global shaper in energy, food, and climate landscape, we will use this platform to bring a world-class tournament to our shores," President Ali said.
The Global Cricket League not only represents an exciting opportunity to showcase Guyana's passion for cricket but also aligns with the government’s broader goals of enhancing tourism and economic diversification. By hosting this annual tournament, Guyana is positioning itself as a premier sports tourism destination, bringing international cricket stars and fans to the country year after year.
Chairman of the Global Super League, Sir Clive Lloyd, praised the initiative, acknowledging its potential to captivate cricket fans worldwide.
"I would like to welcome cricket fans from around the world to this exciting new event. The passion for cricket in Guyana rivals that of fans anywhere, and we look forward to celebrating our love of the game and our rich and vibrant country with those both visiting in person and watching from around the world. I would like to thank His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Irfaan Ali for his vision of a new cricket event for Guyana, one that will captivate the world," Lloyd said.
Each year, the tournament will invite different international teams, further elevating Guyana’s reputation in the global cricketing community. With the 2024 edition promising to bring together top talent and competitive matches, local fans and international viewers alike can expect a thrilling start to this historic event.
Aaron Jones, Roston Chase propel St Lucia Kings to maiden CPL title with stunning victory over Guyana Amazon Warriors
The St Lucia Kings claimed their first-ever Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title in emphatic fashion on Sunday night, defeating the defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in a thrilling final at Providence Stadium. Aaron Jones and Roston Chase led a remarkable recovery after a shaky start to secure the Kings' maiden title, with Jones delivering a match-winning performance under intense pressure.
Chasing a modest target of 139 on a slow, two-paced surface, the Kings appeared in trouble at 51 for 4, with the Warriors’ spinners dominating proceedings. The Guyana crowd had reached a fever pitch as the Kings struggled to score, going nine overs without a boundary. Roston Chase, battling illness, and Aaron Jones, who was on the verge of being retired out by captain Daren Sammy, faced a relentless attack from Guyana’s four-pronged spin bowling unit, led by Noor Ahmad.
However, the match swung dramatically in the 16th over when Jones, who had crawled to 10 off 19 balls, unleashed a furious assault on Moeen Ali, smashing 27 runs off the over with a series of sixes and fours. His explosive batting ignited the Kings’ chase, turning the tide of the game in their favor. Jones, who finished unbeaten on 48 from 31 balls, shared an unbroken 88-run partnership with Chase, who played a measured innings of 39 off 22 balls, guiding the Kings to victory with 11 balls to spare.
The Kings had been r
attled early in their chase when Romario Shepherd removed Johnson Charles for seven. Faf du Plessis, Ackeem Auguste, and Tim Seifert soon followed, leaving the Kings teetering at 51 for 4, with the required run rate climbing. However, Jones and Chase stayed calm, absorbing the pressure before unleashing their onslaught. Jones smashed Dwaine Pretorius for 20 runs in the 17th over, leaving the Kings needing just one run from the final two overs. Imran Tahir’s wide down the leg side sealed the Warriors' fate, handing the Kings a memorable victory.
Reflecting on the win, Chase, who has been with the Kings for five seasons, said: “It means a lot. I’ve been in two finals before, and I made up my mind this morning that I wasn’t going to lose this one.” Meanwhile, Jones, who delivered when it mattered most, added, “We knew playing in the final would be a challenge, but we came out on top. I think of myself as a match-winner.”
Earlier, the Warriors struggled to build momentum after being asked to bat first. They could only muster 27 runs in the powerplay, losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a duck in the opening over. The St Lucia Kings’ bowlers applied consistent pressure, with Khary Pierre delivering a superb spell of 2-0-6-1 during the powerplay. Alzarri Joseph also tied down the batters with wide lines, while Noor Ahmad (4-0-19-3) was the standout, taking the key wickets of Moeen Ali (14) and Shimron Hetmyer (11), both falling to mistimed shots. Chase also chipped in with the wicket of Shai Hope (22) as the Warriors stumbled to 102 for 7 after 18 overs.
Despite a late surge from Romario Shepherd (18) and Dwaine Pretorius (21), who added 36 runs in the final two overs to push the Warriors to 138-8, the total proved insufficient. Noor Ahmad’s 22 wickets this season placed him just behind CPL legend Dwayne Bravo’s record of most wickets in a single CPL season.
The Kings’ victory marks a significant moment in their CPL journey, as they lifted their first title in franchise history. The triumph was a testament to their resilience and belief, with Aaron Jones’ match-winning innings set to be remembered as one of the most remarkable moments of the 2024 CPL season.
Super Arshdeep sets up routine India win over Bangladesh
Arshdeep Singh's fine performance with the ball paved the way for India's convincing seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Sunday.
Fast bowler Arshdeep recorded eye-catching figures of 3-14 in Gwalior before India made light work of chasing their 127-run target in the three-match T20I series opener.
Both Bangladesh openers fell to Arshdeep without reaching double figures as Parvez Hossain Emon was removed for eight and Litton Das on four to leave the hosts struggling at 14-2.
Last batter Mustafizur Rahman proved to be Arshdeep's last victim to wrap up the underwhelming Bangladesh innings, while spinner Varun Chakravarthy also impressed with 3-31 from his four-over allocation.
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav all got starts before falling in India's response, though Nitish Kumar Reddy and Hardik Pandya had little trouble in lifting their side from 80-3 to victory.
Hardik did most of the damage in that game-clinching partnership, blasting an impressive 16-ball 39 that included five fours and two sixes to see India over the line with 49 deliveries to spare.
Data Debrief: Arshdeep leads the way
Arshdeep continues to set the tone for India against batters at the top order, with numerous batters struggling to cope with his dominant left-arm action.
Sunday marked the 11th time he has taken three or more wickets in this format, the most by any India bowler in T20I history.
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