Liam Livingstone has been appointed as the captain of Lancashire for the upcoming 2023 T20 Blast tournament, with his England white-ball captain Jos Buttler also set to join the team for the majority of the season.
Livingstone previously held the position of all-format club captain for Lancashire in 2018 but stepped down after a challenging season that saw the club being relegated from Division One of the County Championship.
Reflecting on his new role, Livingstone expressed his growth and maturity as a player over the past few years due to his experiences around the world. He acknowledged the presence of experienced players in the squad and emphasized the collaborative decision-making process within the team.
Lancashire’s regular club captain, Keaton Jennings, will be sidelined due to a hamstring injury, which prompted the decision to hand the captaincy to Livingstone. The move allows Jennings to focus on his recovery, as explained by Glen Chapple, Lancashire’s head coach.
In their opening T20 Blast game against Derbyshire, Lancashire emerged victorious by four wickets. Although Dane Vilas was initially announced as the captain, he was not included in the playing XI. Instead, Steven Croft, a seasoned batter, took on the leadership role for that match, with Livingstone and Buttler joining the squad after their participation in the IPL.
Buttler, who will be returning to the Lancashire setup on June 1, is scheduled to play 10 group games for the team this season. This marks a significant opportunity for Buttler, as he has not been able to participate in a substantial number of Blast matches over the past five years due to international commitments.
Expressing his excitement, Buttler stated his eagerness to represent Lancashire Lightning in the Vitality Blast and contribute to the team’s success, especially after their close finish in last year’s final.
Lancashire’s upcoming T20 Blast fixture is against Leicestershire, scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The team will be looking to build on their early success and maintain momentum throughout the tournament.
