By Sam Millne
Lancashire and England cricketer Liam Livingstone has signed for Punjab Kings ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season that starts in April.
With the Kings beating Bengaluru to his signature, the £1.1 million move that took place at the league auction this weekend makes him the most expensive foreign player to play in this year’s competition.
With the price tag though comes pressure, and the 28-year-old all-rounder will hope to fare better than last season.
He only scored 42 runs in five innings for Rajasthan Royals after signing for the Jaipur-based outfit for just £73,000.
However, he has improved and following an impressive summer of white ball cricket, his stock has risen significantly in the Twenty20 format.
As well as helping England to the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup where they lost narrowly to New Zealand, Livingstone was named the most valuable player at the inaugural Hundred competition, in which he scored over 100 more runs than anyone else as his Birmingham Phoenix side finished runners-up to Southern Brave.
Known for entertaining crowds with his big hitting, the right-hander can also bowl and took four wickets in eight overs during England’s recent T20 matches against the West Indies.
At the moment, he’s starring in the Pakistan Super League for Peshawar Zalmi for whom he has won one and lost one against Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans respectively.
Among his England teammates who will also be competing in the IPL are Chris Jordan, who’s signed for last season’s champions Chennai Super Kings; wicketkeeper Sam Billings who’s signed for Kolkata Knight Riders; and Alex Hales who will also play for the Knight Riders.
Jofra Archer was also snapped up in the auction.
Mumbai Indians bought him for £783,000 but may not be able to play in this year’s edition due to his ongoing recovery from elbow surgery.
(Featured image © Copyright John Sutton and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence)
