England wait on Livingstone fitness at World Cup

England are waiting connected nan fittingness of all-rounder Liam Livingstone earlier their Super 8s lucifer against West Indies astatine nan T20 World Cup connected Wednesday (Thursday 01:30 BST).

Livingstone, 30, has played successful England's past 15 T20 games but injured his broadside while batting successful Saturday's triumph against Namibia and did not field.

He batted concisely successful nan nets erstwhile England trained successful St Lucia connected Monday but did not bowl.

He returned to nan edifice for curen and did not believe scope hitting pinch his team-mates.

Livingstone has only bowled 2 overs successful this tourney - a tidy 1-15 successful nan conclusion by Australia successful Barbados - but his expertise to vessel disconnected and leg-spin has been an important portion of their attack.

He scored 13 from 4 balls against Namibia and made 15 against Australia successful his only different innings successful nan group stage.

The transportation astatine nan Daren Sammy Stadium is expected to beryllium bully for batting for England's gathering pinch West Indies, who hit Jos Buttler's broadside 3-2 successful a bid past year.

It is nan aforesaid crushed Australia chased 181 to hit Scotland - nan tense consequence that sent England done to this shape astatine nan Scots' disbursal - while Sri Lanka made 201-6 against nan Netherlands.

Regardless of Livingstone's fitness, England look intriguing action decisions.

A triumph would spot them well-placed to decorativeness successful nan apical 2 and suffice for nan semi-finals from Group Two, which besides includes South Africa and nan United States.

Against Namibia, England altered nan equilibrium of their squad by dropping batter Will Jacks and bringing successful all-rounder Sam Curran and bowler Chris Jordan, while besides resting accelerated bowler Mark Wood.

That was put down to nan truth nan lucifer was reduced to 10 overs, pinch Jordan's death-bowling skills viewed arsenic much significant.

In Jacks' absence, Jonny Bairstow looked acold much fluent astatine number 3 successful making 31 and Harry Brook played his champion World Cup sound for England - 47 not retired from 20 balls - a spot higher up nan bid astatine number four.

Should Jacks return he could slot backmost successful astatine 3 aliases travel successful little down nan order, wherever he has batted antecedently for England.

That would time off Curran best-placed to return Livingstone's spot astatine number 7 if nan Lancashire all-rounder is not fit, but different action would beryllium to bring successful an other batter successful Ben Duckett, who besides provides a left-hand option, for Curran aliases Jacks.

Either would time off a determination betwixt Wood's pace, Jordan's decease bowling and Reece Topley's left-arm variety to travel Jofra Archer successful nan bowling attack.

Curran was subordinate of nan tourney erstwhile England won nan 2022 World Cup but his quality against Namibia was his first of this edition.

He will person his MBE, awarded successful 2023 aft his performances successful Australia, erstwhile he returns from nan Caribbean and said it has been "very difficult" watching from nan sidelines.

"England is simply a squad I've done really good for but it shows nan spot of our squad," said Curran.

"I cognize I'm going to get that opportunity successful nan adjacent - hopefully - 5 games. Maybe it's nan World Cup last wherever I get that nod, but moreover if I don't play past fingers crossed I'm ready."