Liam Livingstone ends remarkable year with Lancashire contract extension

Livingstone has forged a reputation as one of the cleanest and longest ball-strikers in world cricket

Liam Livingstone has extended his Lancashire contract following a breakthrough year in international cricket for the big-hitting allrounder.

The 28-year-old, who has opted to spend the winter at home after a busy period, will remain with the county until at least the end of the 2024 season.

As well as forming a key part of England's T20 side, he made his ODI debut in March and was touted in some quarters as a possible Ashes wildcard, such was his impact on the international stage.

"I love playing for this club and it was an easy decision for me to extend my contract," he said. "I have always said that it is a privilege to play for the Red Rose and I am delighted to have the opportunity to continue doing that until at least 2024 and hopefully much longer after that."

Livingstone has forged a reputation as one of the cleanest and longest ball-strikers in world cricket, smashing a remarkable hundred against Pakistan during the summer, albeit in a losing cause. He was rewarded for his international form with an England increment contract for the 2021/22 campaign.

On Friday, it was also announced that Livingstone had been retained in the platinum category by Peshawar Zalmi, his Pakistan Super League franchise, for next year.

^{Liam Livingstone smashed his maiden international hundred against Pakistan (Lindsey Parnaby/AFP via Getty Images)}

His name is expected to be in demand when the Indian Premier League auction comes around early next year, with the addition of his part-time leg spin to his armoury providing another string to his bow.

Mark Chilton, Lancashire's director of cricket performance, added: "We're really pleased to have secured Liam's services for the next three years. His performance levels and reputation in world cricket continue to grow and he is a huge asset to our squad – in all formats of the game.

"He's a match-winner, destructive in all facets of the game now and those are the players that you want in your side."

In red-ball cricket, he averages almost 40, with five first-class centuries for Lancashire, as well as two for England Lions. In 2018, he was included in the Test squad for a series in New Zealand.