County skipper dons unusual hand protection but isn't required to test it as Joe Root claims remarkable figures
Batsman's bizarre ploy to shield broken thumb
Lancashire captain Liam Livingstone resorted to bizarre measures to protect a broken thumb as he bravely went out to bat despite the injury in a County Championship match on Tuesday.
With Yorkshire closing on victory over their Roses rivals at Old Trafford, Livingstone strode to the crease sporting what appeared to be a small pad designed for the shin of a close-in fielder over his left arm and hand.
Image Id: 7BB8C4AE417040E6BC30E8DE52E4C04E Image Caption: Livingstone wore a close-in fielder's pad on his arm // GettyThe twice-capped England T20 International batter fractured his thumb while attempting a slips catch on day one of the match, and did not did bat in Lancashire's first innings.
SCORECARD: Lancashire v Yorkshire
But when the hosts slumped to 9-204 chasing 323 to win on day three, Livingstone went out to join England quick Jimmy Anderson in the middle.
Footage had earlier surfaced on Twitter of Livingstone practicing batting with one hand, and it appeared that's how he intended to help Anderson knock off the remaining 119 runs.
Liam Livingstone practising one-handed for later, should he be required. Bats better with one hand than most of us do with two!@liaml4893 @lancscricket pic.twitter.com/gD3nE0rG2i%E2%80%94 CricketBadger (@cricket_badger) July 24, 2018
Perhaps fortunately for Livingstone, he didn't get an opportunity to employ the out-of-the-box tactic as Anderson became Joe Root's fourth victim of the innings with his skipper yet to face a ball.
Image Id: FDB4F293DD0744BF845802D9E9513DA0 Image Caption: Livingstone and Anderson walk off after Lancashire's 118-run defeat // GettyRoot, a part-time off-spinner, finished with the remarkable figures of 4-5 from 7.4 overs, including five maidens.
Incredible bowling figures for @root66: 4️⃣ wickets for 5️⃣ runs!@YorkshireCCC win a thrilling Roses match by 118 runs Videos & scorecards: https://t.co/t3dIeoj0Db pic.twitter.com/yp80NRhLoF%E2%80%94 County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 24, 2018
England's Test captain had earlier extinguished Lancashire's last realistic shot at victory when Jos Buttler was adjudged out caught at leg-slip, with the star limited-overs batsman seemingly aghast at the decision.
Joe Root v Jos Buttler: there can be only one winner Reckon this will get mentioned in the @englandcricket changing room? 😬 pic.twitter.com/vvZzJxYz7h%E2%80%94 County Championship (@CountyChamp) July 24, 2018
Anderson claimed two wickets for the match as he tuned up for England's five Test series against India beginning next week, removing Root for three after the right-hander had managed 22 in his first dig.
Wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, a day after handing Jordan Clark a memorable hat-trick that included Root and Yorkshire's New Zealand recruit Kane Williamson, found form in a brisk 82 that featured 11 boundaries in the visitors' second innings.
Bairstow's knock, along with opener Harry Brook's 55, put the game out of reach for Lancashire, who finished 118 runs short to slide to bottom of the Division One standings.
"It was a very up and down game which kept you on the edge of your seat and a great spectacle for county cricket," Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale said after his side's win.
"To get bowled out for 190 with the batting line-up we had, a hat-trick, I thought we were 100 short of where we wanted to be on that pitch. But to come out and bowl in the fashion we did, it got us back in the game.
"The partnership between Brooky and Jonny was fantastic (second innings), and the tail wagged and got us in a great position. We knew if we bowled in the right areas for a period of time, we'd get our rewards."
Australians Aaron Finch (Surrey) and Travis Head (Worcestershire) both missed out in their counties' first innings, each making two, but will have another chance should their teams' bat again.