Liam Livingstone has given a scathing account of his handling by the current England regime, claiming “no-one cares about you”.
Livingstone has exactly 100 caps for his country across all three formats but has not featured for his country in over a year and seems resigned to things staying that way.
In an interview with ESPN Cricinfo, the 32-year-old was highly critical of his interactions with director of cricket Rob Key and described his time at last year’s Champions Trophy as “the worst experience I’ve had playing cricket”.
Sky Sports News understands the England and Wales Cricket Board do not believe Livingstone’s England career is over and he will remain under consideration if he performs well.
The ECB’s Ashes review, covering “tour planning and preparation, individual performance and behaviours” after the 4-1 thrashing Down Under over the winter, is still ongoing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Rob Key believes there isn’t a drinking culture within the team, after England received criticism for their break to Noosa, between the second and third Ashes Test, following claims it was like a ‘stag do’
Livingstone: ‘I don’t miss it’ playing for England
Describing a lack of communication after his dropping in a brief phone call by head coach Brendon McCullum last May, Livingstone said: “I don’t think it would have reached a minute.
“I asked why; they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Brooky (captain Harry Brook) sent me a text.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Brendon McCullum reflects on England’s performances during the winter across Test and white-ball cricket, saying he would love to stay on as head coach
“Keysy said nothing, said I’ll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough and then I didn’t hear off him until the end of September.
“That probably sums that group up as a collective. That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime.
“If you’re in, you’re in, and if you’re not in, no-one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward.
“I was asking for help and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit.”
Sky Sports News understands the ECB feel Livingstone has wrongly interpreted that conversation.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Watch as Liam Livingstone smashed FIVE sixes in an over for the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders
The big-hitting all-rounder remains in demand on the franchise circuit, including a £1m IPL deal from Sunrisers Hyderabad and a £350,000 bid from London Spirit at last week’s Hundred auction.
“I still believe I’m one of the best players in white-ball cricket in England,” Livingstone said. “Just because I’m not playing for England, because of a couple of people’s opinions, it doesn’t mean that I’m not good enough to do it.”
As for his absence from the recent T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka and India, where England reached the semi-finals, losing to India, Livingstone added: “I didn’t miss it one bit.
“There wasn’t any part of me that was wishing I was playing in that team, to be honest.”
What did Livingstone and Key say last summer?
In an interview with Sky Sports News last summer, Livingstone said that “nobody has really reached out to me to tell me what I need to do or any reasons why”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
On an episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast in 2025, Rob Key discussed Liam Livingstone’s absence from the England squad
Responding to that suggestion on an episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Rob Key jokingly said: “I saw something (Livingstone) said the other day that he’s not heard anything since being dropped. I don’t know if he’s got a phone, if he’s allowed to ring, he’s 32 years of age – it’s not hard.
“If you want to find out where you are, you’ve got my number mate.
“He’s a fantastic cricketer and you want someone like Liam Livingstone around. He just needs to find that consistency.”
