England have rolled the cube by calling up white-ball star Liam Livingstone for his or her Test match tour of Pakistan.
Livingstone was the eye-catching identify in a 15-man squad for the collection in December, joined by fellow newcomer Will Jacks and the returning duo of Keaton Jennings and Ben Duckett.
Jennings and Duckett will each be eyeing the opening slot after Alex Lees was axed, an omission flagged by his failure to earn a central contract this week.
Livingstone has not performed first-class cricket in over a yr, more and more focusing his efforts on the shorter types after turning into a mainstay of England’s limited-overs facet.
But, with Moeen Ali backtracking on his Test retirement, there was a emptiness for a big-hitting, spin-bowling all-rounder and the selectors have determined each he and Jacks match the profile.
There is little question that the 29-year-old represents a raffle. He sat out Lancashire’s complete championship season and managed simply eight video games within the two earlier campaigns, averaging 11 in 2021 and 18.5 in 2020.
But he has proved a bombastic participant on the largest stage, smashing his nation’s quickest ever worldwide century in simply 42 balls in opposition to Pakistan final summer season and his fashion is more likely to chime with the attacking instincts of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.
Livingstone’s bowling can also be a gorgeous possibility in Pakistan, given his potential to change simply between off-spin and leg-spin relying on the opponent.
He will not be totally untested in opposition to the pink ball, with 62 first-class video games, seven tons of and a Test call-up again in 2018 on his CV, and stated final yr: “If they did take a punt on me in Tests, I believe I have the skills to perform.
“I’m not the worst player out there and I’ve proved I can affect a game in all three facets, that I can bat and bowl under pressure.”
Jacks is one other beneficiary of Moeen’s determination to pack away his England whites for good. The 23-year-old made his T20 debut in Pakistan final month and was named as home MVP on the Professional Cricketers’ Association end-of-season awards.
Like Livingstone, he mixes highly effective stroke play with a helpful bowling possibility and can present additional back-up for the solitary specialist spinner Jack Leach.
Lees’ omission might spell the top of his time on the prime, with the left-hander averaging simply 23.64 from 10 appearances this yr. Zak Crawley continues to benefit from the selectors’ backing regardless of his personal modest file.
He has two potential top-order companions, Jennings – who has scored sub-continental centuries in Mumbai and Galle and was Division One’s prime run-scorer in 2022 – and Duckett. The latter performed 4 Tests in 2016 however is a extra constant performer now and received glowing critiques for his efforts within the latest T20s in Karachi and Lahore.
As anticipated, Stuart Broad is absent from the bowling assault, together with his fiancee Mollie King anticipating their first youngster subsequent month. Durham’s Matthew Potts is a extra shocking absentee given his glorious returns firstly of the summer season, when he claimed 20 wickets in 5 Tests at a median of 28.
England have most popular the peak and tempo of Jamie Overton, who debuted in opposition to New Zealand in June however made an even bigger splash with the bat than the ball.
Managing director of males’s cricket Rob Key, who chaired choice, stated: “We are looking forward to touring Pakistan as a Test team for the first time since 2005. It will be an historic tour and a compelling series against a good side.
“The selectors have picked a squad for the conditions we can expect in Pakistan. There is a strong blend of youth and experience and players who will adapt well to the types of pitches we are likely to get across the three-match series.
“I wish the players every success, especially those new to the squad and those returning after a period of time away.”
Source: www.unbiased.co.uk