Liam Livingstone has been cleared to fly to Australia for the Big Bash.
This is following the cancellation of a three match ODI series between England and South Africa. Livingstone was a part of the ODI and T20I squads for the tour.
The series was cancelled because of positive COVID tests in both teams. Members of staff at the hotel where England were staying also tested positive.
Two England players were ‘unconfirmed’ positives. This meant there were severe doubts about whether the English travelling party would’ve been able to travel yet.
It has since been confirmed that both players were false positive. This means they have been able to leave self-isolation and re-join the rest of the squad. If they’d been confirmed as positive then the touring party would’ve been asked to remain in South Africa until December 15.
This would’ve caused a huge disruption for the Lancashire batsman’s Big Bash plans. He is already due to do a 12-day quarantine when he arrives in Australia.
An extra week in South Africa would’ve meant Livingstone missing Perth Scorchers’ opening three, possibly four, matches.
His contract at Perth Scorchers is a renewal of a 2019 deal that saw him gain widespread acclaim and praise. In the 2019 season, he hit the second most amount of sixes of any player in the tournament. He was also Perth’s highest run scorer averaging 30.36.
Four England players who were in the aforementioned ODI squad will be travelling to Australia for the Big Bash. That list includes Sam Billings and Lewis Gregory.
The other is Jason Roy with whom he is expected to form an opening partnership with subject to form and fitness.
Livingstone’s Perth feature in the fourth match of the tournament against Melbourne Renegades for their season opener.
Every Big Bash fixture will be live and available on BT Sport from December 10 until the final on February 6.
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