Liam Livingstone is set to play his first County Championship game for five years, after being named in Lancashire’s squad for their game with Kent, starting on Friday (11:00 BST).
Livingstone’s last involvement was in 2021, but he is set to play in the four-day Division Two match at Stanley Park in Blackpool.
The 32-year-old has been a white-ball-only player in recent years, but he is helping his county through an injury crisis after being asked by captain Sir James Anderson to play.
“I don’t think I’d be playing if everyone was fit, but Jimmy asked and if I was ever going to play for anyone, Jimmy and Crofty (coach Steven Croft) are probably my top two people,” Livingstone told Radio Lancashire.
Australia white-ball batter Ben McDermott, currently playing for the county in the T20 Blast, has also signed a contract to play in the next two Championship games.
Lancashire are fourth in Division Two after six games, 10 points adrift of the promotion places.
Livingstone made his first-class debut a decade ago for Lancashire, playing 62 red-ball games for the Red Rose, scoring seven hundreds and 15 half-centuries in those, with a career best of 224.
He even played one Test for England – the 3-0 series win in Pakistan in late 202 – but that was his last involvement in whites.
Since then, he has made his name as a white-ball specialist around the world, featuring in all the major T20 franchise leagues and The Hundred.
Lancashire have struggled in the T20 Blast this season, but Livingstone has been a shining light with scores of 85 not out and 81 as well as wickets in all four of his games.
And with Australian all-rounder Chris Green ruled out with a fractured thumb, Livingstone’s powerful batting and off-spin combination makes him a good option to stand in for the Championship matches this week and next.
“I feel like I’m batting as well as I ever have,” he said. “I feel like I’m in good nick.
“We’ve obviously had a lot of injuries and the club has given me a lot, so it’s nice to give back and try to help out.
“I think it’s good for me and good for my game. I’ve complained over the last few years about not being able to get in a rhythm and not having time in the middle, having batted lower down the order.
“So here’s my chance to have some time in the middle.”