Liam Livingstone says it was a "pleasure" to watch Jos Buttler's 71 not out from 32 balls against Australia as England cantered to third straight victory at T20 World Cup with eight-wicket drubbing of Aaron Finch's side; Livingstone also talks spin bowling and next game vs Sri Lanka
Sunday 31 October 2021 12:36, UK
"Genius" Jos Buttler is the best white-ball hitter in the world, said England team-mate Liam Livingstone, after his brutal batting during the eight-wicket win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
Buttler creamed five sixes and as many fours while striking an unbeaten 71 from just 32 deliveries as England topped Australia's 125 all out with 50 balls to spare in Dubai on Saturday evening.
The 31-year-old's pyrotechnics included monster back-to-back sixes off Mitchell Starc as England claimed a third consecutive victory.
Livingstone told Sky Sports Cricket: "It was a pleasure to be sat there watching that Jos innings. It was phenomenal to see a genius at work.
"Every single six he hit was 15, 20 rows back, some 50 rows back. I have said it all along - he is the best hitter of a white ball in the world.
"When he gets on a roll like that there is no stopping him. It was the perfect innings, a clinic of white-ball power-hitting and long may it continue."
It's the variety of shots he's got, the power, the fearlessness, putting bowlers under pressure. All this combined makes him one of the best white-ball batters in the world. We're very lucky to have him.
Buttler's blistering knock, in which he passed 300 career sixes in T20 cricket, came after England's bowlers had fired again, reducing Australia to 21-3 after the powerplay.
Chris Woakes (2-23) dismissed David Warner (1) and Glenn Maxwell (6), while he also took a sensational catch at mid-on to remove Steve Smith (1).
England razed defending champions West Indies for just 55 in their opening World Cup game and then limited Bangladesh to 124-9 in their second.
Livingstone, who bagged figures of 1-15 from four overs against Australia with his mix of leg and off-spin, said: "Our bowlers have been phenomenal throughout the tournament and we have great depth within our line-up.
"It is hard to hit that Test-match length from the seamers - Woakes' length is perfect for these pitches. We have bowled that beautifully and backed it up as a spin unit.
"The way our batters have come down the pitch and tried to hit bowlers off their length is something teams haven't quite done to us yet."
Livingstone claimed 2-15 from three overs against Bangladesh and then dismissed Australia left-hander Matthew Wade - caught by Jason Roy on the long-on boundary - during his four overs on Saturday.
The Lancashire man turned the ball away from the right-handers with leg-spin and away from the left-handers with off-spin.
Livingstone added of his bowling: "I have done it for a few years now and worked really hard on it for moments like this - to be able to spin the ball away from the bat when teams are under pressure is a great thing to have.
"I have done loads of work on my lengths with Jeets [England spin-bowling coach Jeetan Patel].
"It's been about trying to change me as a bowler to try and hit a much better length and not miss full. Thankfully that hard work is starting to pay off and I have done that this tournament.
"I learn so much from Mo [Moeen Ali] and Rash [Adil Rashid].
"An off-spinner and a leg-spinner that have probably been two of the best in the world for many years now.
"I get to learn off them which is pretty cool for me. I am pretty blessed to learn the art of spin to go along with my batting."
On Monday's clash with Sri Lanka in Sharjah, in which a win could all but secure England a semi-final spot, Livingstone said: "We have said that every pitch is so different and Sharjah will be completely different.
"Different bounce, much slower. We will have to assess the conditions as quickly as we can and get down to work."
Watch England vs Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 1.30pm on Monday.
