England cricketer Liam Livingstone expressed his disappointment following the team’s opening loss to Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy, asserting that their performance warranted a better outcome. In the match, England scored 351 runs in their first innings, bolstered by a century from Ben Duckett, which initially placed them in a strong position.
The Australian chase began poorly with key players Travis Head and Steve Smith dismissed early. However, Josh Inglis’s unbeaten century led the Australians to a remarkable victory, establishing a new record for the largest chase in the tournament’s history. Despite the defeat, Livingstone, who scored only 14 runs, reflected on England’s efforts. He noted, “We did a hell of a lot really well,” and insisted that their performance was deserving of a win.
Livingstone acknowledged that certain moments in the game shifted the momentum away from England, but he remained optimistic about their abilities. He stated that refining specific skills could have added crucial runs to their total, although it remained uncertain if that would have changed the game’s outcome.
Looking ahead, England must secure wins against both Afghanistan and South Africa to stay in contention for the knockout stages of the tournament. Livingstone recognised the challenge posed by Afghanistan, particularly their formidable spin attack, highlighting that they have numerous match-winners in their squad.
As England prepares for their next matches, Livingstone’s focus is on leveraging their recent performance to turn their fortunes around in the tournament. Australia, meanwhile, is set to face South Africa soon as their campaign continues.