'I feel like I've got smile on my face again' - Liam Livingstone 'enjoying playing cricket' again after persistent knee issues

Key all-rounder of the defending champions of the T20 Over World Cup, Liam Livingstone, left the recently-concluded edition of the IPL ahead of schedule. His early exit was not principally for additional practice for the ICC event but rather to focus on intensive knee rehabilitation programs back in England. Following England's resounding T20I win over Pakistan, concluding their preparations before embarking on their campaign against Scotland on June 4, 2024, Livingstone reflected on the past 18 months.

Despite not getting the opportunity to bat in the final match of the series and facing only three deliveries in the second T20I after the first one was washed out due to inclement weather, Livingstone candidly discussed the challenges of playing through persistent niggles. Since sustaining a knee injury while fielding in his debut and only match in the longest format to date, he admitted to being in a dismal mental state by the conclusion of the IPL. 

He acknowledged that playing with such physical issues not only saps one's morale, but also prevents the person from relishing being a part of the game. He expressed that receiving an anti-inflammatory injection prior to the Pakistan series allowed him to play pain-free for the first time since being hindered by the niggle. This transformation had been exhilarating for him, as it reignited his zest for cricket, now playing with renewed enthusiasm, sporting a smile on his face.

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"It's not been the most enjoyable 18 months of trying to play with a niggle. It kind of drains your spirit, drains your enjoyment of cricket. I was in a pretty crap place at the end of the IPL. Thankfully, the injection seems to have worked and just being able to play cricket pain-free for the first time in two years is the exciting part for me. I feel I've got a smile on my face again, and I'm enjoying playing cricket," shared Livingstone post England's series triumph against Pakistan as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Hopefully...I can show that I'm in better nick than I was: Livingstone

Implying to his decline in form across T20s over the past seven to eight months, during which he managed only 60 runs in six innings at the Cricket World Cup 2023 and averaged a mere 15.75 across 18 franchise innings since the start of the year, Livingstone truthfully acknowledged that recent months had not unfolded as he had anticipated. He expressed optimism about emerging from this challenging phase and overcoming his current standstill.

Reflecting on his volatile middle-order role, which could see him benched for a few group-stage games depending on the call taken by the management, Livingstone remained hopeful about reversing his fortunes and proving that he is in significantly better form than before. 

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 "The winter didn't go as well as I would've liked, but it is what it is. Everybody goes through a run in their career where they have a bit of a rut, so hopefully I'm on the other side of that. It may not be in the group stage - but hopefully when my opportunity comes, I can show that I'm in a bit better nick than what I was," added Livingstone.