Overview
- ECB managing director Rob Key said in a Sky Sports interview that Liam Livingstone remains in contention for England selection and described their recent phone call as tetchy.
- Livingstone had told ESPNcricinfo he was ignored by decision-makers before his central contract expired and said the setup fails to support players once they are dropped.
- Key said selectors debated picking Livingstone for January’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka and noted he was once under consideration to captain an ODI side short of senior players in late 2024.
- Key, who kept his role after an internal review of England’s poor Ashes, said leadership means upsetting some players and argued he cannot keep everyone happy.
- Livingstone will play for SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026, which now offers the clearest stage to score runs and press for a recall after nearly a year out of the England side.