England’s Liam Livingstone mentioned he’s a “higher participant than somebody who simply slogs it” after his match-winning 95 within the second one-day worldwide in opposition to New Zealand.
Livingstone, 30, top-scored as England levelled the collection in Southampton.
The Lancashire batter has struggled with accidents over the previous 18 months, and has had restricted alternatives in longer types of cricket.
“That is what I have been crying out for,” he informed BBC Sport.
“I have been fairly wanting ahead to one-day cricket, simply since you’ve received that little bit extra time.”
Livingstone’s unbeaten 95, which got here from 78 balls as England recovered from 55-5 to put up 226-7 in a rain-reduced encounter, was his longest innings by way of balls confronted since a County Championship fixture for Lancashire in 2019.
It was additionally the primary time he had confronted greater than 60 balls since that very same knock, in 177 innings since. England went on to win by 79 runs.
Seen as a white-ball specialist, Livingstone has usually been utilized in a ending position for England due to his capacity to attain rapidly from his first ball.
However Livingstone hopes this efficiency has confirmed his versatility in England’s center order, after main them from a place of hassle.
“It is as a result of folks do not get an opportunity to see me do the rest,” mentioned Livingstone, when requested about it being his longest innings for 4 years.
“My position over the previous couple of years has been within the decrease order. You solely get to do what’s in entrance of you and generally, it will probably look fairly ugly.
“I perceive that, however I really feel like I am a greater participant than somebody who is available in and simply slogs it on the finish and fortunately, right this moment, I in all probability proved that to lots of people.”
Livingstone suffered an ankle damage in The Hundred in 2022, however recovered to characteristic in England’s T20 World Cup victory that adopted.
However he then suffered a knee damage on England’s Take a look at tour of Pakistan in December.
“It has been a bizarre yr. It is good that the work I’ve put in during the last three months has lastly paid off and in a global sport,” he added.
With batter Harry Brook a shock omission from England’s provisional World Cup squad, Livingstone’s title was a type of being talked about as being beneath menace if Brook continues his effective type, alongside opener Dawid Malan who missed the sport on the Ageas Bowl for the beginning of his second little one.
However Malan scored a effective half-century at Cardiff, as did Livingstone, whose type and added asset as a spin bowler ought to finish any discussions over his place within the squad.
England’s batting depth paid off within the series-levelling win, which noticed Livingstone moved all the way down to quantity seven as a substitute of 5 and all-rounder Sam Curran rating an important 42 from 35 balls from quantity eight in a stand of 112 with Livingstone.
It’s one thing coach Matthew Mott will hope stands them in good stead for the upcoming World Cup in India, the place England will look to defend their title from 2019, because the event lasts for seven weeks, and pitches and situations are prone to range across the totally different cities.
“It is one thing that we delight ourselves on, but it surely’s additionally one thing that we will use in video games like that,” mentioned Livingstone of England’s depth.
“Sam took the stress off me and we simply tried to set it up in direction of the again finish, and ensure we did not go too early and lose wickets and find yourself stumbling to 180/190.
“I believed the boys performed rather well. It was in all probability nearly par rating and our bowlers managed to capitalise.
“I am actually happy with the best way I performed however extra importantly, I believed it was a fairly good group efficiency.”