Livingstone Leads England ODI Team vs West Indies

Liam Livingstone has been appointed as the captain of England's ODI team for their upcoming series against the West Indies, following a setback in Jos Buttler's recovery from a calf injury. Buttler, who has not played since June 2024 due to the injury, was originally slated to lead the team but will now miss the ODI series, although he is expected to return for the subsequent T20 series. Livingstone, who has previously captained Lancashire, steps into the role amid England's overlapping Test tours, which have limited their leadership options. Phil Salt was considered for the captaincy but was ultimately passed over due to his ongoing struggle to secure a stable position in the ODI squad. This appointment provides Livingstone a platform to solidify his place in the Champions Trophy squad. The England squad for the West Indies tour is notably young and inexperienced, highlighting the impact of concurrent Test commitments on player availability.