Liam Livingstone, a white-ball specialist, will get the opportunity to shine with the red ball during England’s Test tour of Pakistan as opener Alex Lees was left out of the 15-man team that was released on Wednesday.
Livingstone, who has been a pillar of England’s limited-overs team but has never played in a Test match or even appeared in a first-class match, has been concentrating more on the shorter formats of the game.
The 29-year-selection old’s is a major risk given that he missed the all of Lancashire’s championship season and played in only eight games in his previous two seasons, which averaged 11 in 2021 and 18.5 in 2020.
But in restricted overs, he has rapidly emerged as a star of the international game.
Livingstone’s approach is expected to mesh with the attacking impulses of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. Livingstone scored his nation’s fastest-ever international century against Pakistan last summer in just 42 balls.
Lees has paid the price for averaging just 23.8 from 10 Test appearances after being excluded from the group of players awarded a key contract earlier in the week.
Ben Duckett and Keaton Jennings, who scored both of his Test hundreds in the subcontinent, are back, and Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks has received his maiden call-up to the Test team.
Due to his partner’s impending pregnancy at the end of November, seasoned fast bowler Stuart Broad is out, making place for Jamie Overton of Surrey.
This is England’s first trip to Pakistan to play a Test series since 2005.
Rob Key, England’s managing director of cricket, predicted that “it will be a historic visit and a thrilling series against a good team.”
“The team has been chosen by the selectors to suit the conditions we may anticipate in Pakistan.
Players who will adapt effectively to the many sorts of pitches we are expected to see over the course of the three-match series are there, as well as a good mix of youth and experience.
Between December 1 and December 21, all three tests will take place in Rawalpindi, Multan, and Karachi.
