They didn’t succeed. The next match, a vital win for England in which Livingstone did his part with the ball despite not being able to bat, took 4-0-24-1 with an attack against left-handed batsmen and a leg break against right-handed batsmen.
The problem with slow pitches is that the top order has to try to bat deeper, bat when the number seven is in trouble or when it’s time to go, and adapt to many variables that are difficult to train for. After four overs against USA, Livingstone was asked whether he thought so. In ~ tournament.
“It’s a little different,” Livingston said. “To be honest, I don’t have the most glamorous role in this team. I think my role in the team is to stand there and provide a boost whenever needed. Even against West Indies, I did that by getting the wicket of Rovman Powell. It’s probably better to take 1 out of 20 than none out of 4.
“It’s a different role from what I’m used to my whole life. It’s a role that requires a bit more mental adjustment than anything else, which is why I was so disappointed last time that I didn’t finish. The game against South Africa was when we were playing in the tournament and it was in the tournament that we actually played. Because I felt like we still had a chance to win.
“It’s different. I bowl when I need to, and I don’t always bat in games that end very quickly. I think it’s been a mental challenge for me over the last few months to make sure I’m doing it right at any time. I need to.”
It’s a difficult task because elite cricketers are highly competitive athletes who get this far by participating in every game they can. “As a kid, I always wanted to get involved,” Livingston said. “That’s why I started bowling a few years ago – batting at seven and bowling once every two games… That’s when the difficult part comes because I want to be in the game. But yeah, I am in this team. The best way for me to do good work for the team and for my role is to make sure I’m there to do it whenever I need to.
“Luckily, I think I bowled the ball pretty well against South Africa in the last two games and I think I bowled pretty well today, so I think it’s my last two games with the bat and ball. It’s a really good place to be. “I think I’ll be in a good spot in the next two games. “Hopefully we can win the World Cup without needing it, but I think I’m in a good place if I need it.”
When such a rare opportunity comes, it is expected that he will finish the game even if he hits the ball well, but Livingston did not do that. But the fact is that no one has scored 100 runs at number 6 and number 7 in this World Cup.
“Look, I’m in a team where I try to finish the game with the bat and get wickets with the ball when I feel like we’re struggling for one,” Livingstone said. “Yeah, I’m always going to be hard on myself. I had a chance to finish the game the other day and I didn’t do it right. But yeah, I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well. I felt like I’m bowling really well in the last two~ “What I’m most happy about over the three years is that my body has really improved, and if I get the opportunity to make an impact on cricket, that’s what I’ll be most excited about, and hopefully I’ll be ready to do that after the next game or two.”
Training for such a role is also difficult. Without giving away his secrets, Livingstone revealed something about his own process. “Whatever you do for a living, you have to find a way to train for it,” he said. “My training was a little different. You have to try to put yourself in pressure situations. Having Polly (Kieron Pollard) around makes it a little easier. Having someone who has been in that role for a long time, I got to talk to him. “I think I enjoyed the challenge of not getting many opportunities to share, but I definitely tried to do it when I got the chance.”
The physical challenges of this role often go unmentioned. Livingstone almost injured his knee in the IPL two years ago. He almost injured his side in this tournament. Asked if his side was OK, Livingston said: “Feel wood. There’s a lot of wood.” “Yes, my knee is really fine. I had a similar incident a few years ago when I missed the ball in the IPL and I think it happened after sitting for two hours and trying to hit the ball.” The first ball hit the ground.
“Yes, my side is fine. My knee is really good so I’m very happy. So my fingers are crossed. I get to enjoy my cricket again, putting the worries of the last few years behind me and that’s the most important thing in life. So playing with a smile on my face. “It’s something I’ve always done.”
Sidharth Monga is a senior writer at ESPNcricinfo.
