SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 06: Liam Livingstone of the Scorchers bats during the Big Bash League Final match between the Sydney Sixers and the Perth Scorchers at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 06, 2021 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
The Big Bash League draft has taken a gut-wrenching twist for the Melbourne Renegades after number one pick Liam Livingstone went down with an ankle injury.
Livingstone has now been ruled out of the remainder of The Hundred in England, with the Birmingham side in the fight for a spot in the knockouts.
The star all-rounder, who has been rated as the best T20 player on the planet by the Renegades' brass is yet to have knowledge of how serious the injury is, but coming into the BBL with a potential lack of match practice could be a cause for concern to Melbourne's team in red if the injury is revealed to be serious.
Directly following The Hundred, England are due to tour Pakistan for seven T20 matches as a crucial part of their T20 World Cup preparation, before arriving in Australia where they will play the hosts of the World Cup in a three-match bilateral series just a week out from the tournament commencing.
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The BBL is still over three months away and while the chance of Livingstone missing any of that due to the injury seems slim, the Renegades will still be sweating on the return of scans to determine how long the Englishman will be out for.
Livingstone played for the Perth Scorchers during last year's BBL campaign and will be available for all 14 matches if he is fit.