PAK vs ENG 2022: Liam Livingstone ruled out of rest of Test series

PAK vs ENG 2022: There comes a huge blow for England’s Test team as their swashbuckling all-rounder Liam Livingstone has been ruled out of the ongoing Test Series after sustaining a knee injury to his right knee during the first Test.

For the unversed, Livingstone has made a test debut in the format with the ongoing Pakistan series. However right in the first Test of the series, injury played a spoilsport in his intentions of making an impact on his Debut Test. He injured his knee while fielding & stopping a ball near the boundary on Day two of the first Test where England had an edge over Pakistan by scoring a mammoth 657 runs in the first innings. Livingstone who remained off-field in Pakistan’s first innings came back to bat in the second innings.

However, he was struggling to run between wickets & could score just seven runs. While in the first innings he could score just 9 runs & couldn’t bowl in Pakistan’s second innings. A scan on Sunday morning revealed that Livingstone has encountered a serious knee injury & thus will return to the UK on Tuesday to begin his rehabilitation program under the guidance & supervision of the ECB & Lancashire medical team.

PAK vs ENG 2022: ECB hasn’t named any replacement for Liam Livingstone

Notably, England hasn’t named any replacement for Livingstone but fast bowler Mark Wood who missed the first Test due to a hip injury seems to be Livingstone’s perfect replacement in the Playing XI if he recovers on time for the second Test. Livingstone who is England’s key player in the limited overs format received a call-up to their Test squad on the basis of his spin capabilities as he offers off-spin & leg-spin options to the team.

On the other hand, Will Jacks who has been included in the Playing XI for the first Test at the last moment due to bug bite illness to Ben Foakes returned with figures of 6 for 161. England has a plethora of capable players who could take place of Livingstone in the playing XI. One such player who could feature in the Playing XI is Leicestershire’s leg-spinning all-rounder Rehan Ahmed who could add strength to England’s playing XI with his raw spin attack. Meanwhile, PAK vs ENG 2^nd Test will be played in Multan from Friday on the same flat Rawalpindi pitch.