LIAM Livingstone believes his upcoming spell in the Indian Premier League will prove invaluable no matter how much playing time he gets.

The Barrow Cricket Club product was picked up by Rajasthan Royals for the 2019 edition of the Twenty20 tournament in the later rounds of last month’s IPL auction, with the franchise paying £50,000 for his services.

Big-hitting right-hander Livingstone, who is a useful spin bowler too, knows he may have to bide his time to get a chance to feature for the Royals.

But he is in no doubt the experience of being around and competing against some of the world’s best cricketers will stand him in good stead for the future, even though it means missing the start of the English county cricket season with Lancashire.

“I think that was one of the reasons I wanted to go into the auction, even though I’ll miss part of the season with Lancs,” Livingstone told ESPNCricinfo.

“The experience of being in the changing room with some of the best players in the world, and playing against them, and seeing how they operate from day to day, that was one of the attractions of going in.

“If I get the chance to play, I hope I can show people what I’m about. I would like to see myself as flexible and willing to try a few different positions.

“I’m just going out there with an open mind and, if I get the chance to do anything, hopefully I’ll be ready to take it.”

Livingstone will have a couple of familiar faces to help him settle into the Royals squad, with Lancashire team-mate Jos Buttler and fellow Cumbrian Ben Stokes both back for another IPL stint.

Livingstone knows Buttler from when they were both involved with the Cumberland county age-group set-up as teenagers, while he hopes his own spell in the IPL can prove just as beneficial as it has for England vice-captain Buttler.

“Speaking to Jos, he always says it’s one of the best things he’s done in his career,” said Livingstone.

“This time last year, if you said that Jos would do what he’s done in Test cricket, people would have said you were crazy.

“But that shows not only the level of skill Jos has got, but that, so long as your basics are in good order, you can temper what you do in T20, and use it in 50-over and Test cricket as well.”