Lancashire have formally "expressed their disappointment" to the ECB following Liam Livingstone's controversial dismissal in the semi-final of the T20 Blast at Edgbaston on Saturday.
In a statement posted on social media, the club said: "Following on from Finals Day, Lancashire Cricket has formally expressed its disappointment to the ECB regarding the decision that led to the dismissal of Liam Livingstone. The Lancashire all-rounder was given out LBW for 29, following a review by the TV umpire."
Following on from Finals Day, @lancscricket has formally expressed its disappointment to the ECB regarding the decision that led to the dismissal of Liam Livingstone. The Lancashire all-rounder was given out LBW for 29, following a review by the TV umpire.
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) September 15, 2025
While the Club remains… pic.twitter.com/NLgtnWOXca
Lancashire were facing eventual champions Somerset in the first semi-final on Saturday. Having been set 183 to chase, Lancashire were reduced to 35-2 in the third over, bringing Livingstone to the crease early. However, he mounted a comeback, hitting two sixes in his first nine balls and taking his side to 99-3 at the end of the 11th over. Facing up to Lewis Gregory on 29 off 18, the Somerset captain sent down a straight delivery which thumped into Livingstone's pad and he was given out by the on-field umpire.
Livingstone immediately sent the decision upstairs, indicating the ball had hit his inside edge before it made contact with his pad. On replay, the ball passed close to Livingstone's bat a split second before it hit his pad, and UltraEdge showed several spikes in sound. TV Umpire Sue Redfern, however, stated that there was "a gap between bat and ball". Ball tracking showed three reds, ending Livingstone's innings.
Upon seeing that Redfern had deemed there was no bat involved, Livingstone was visibly frustrated. Watching the replay on the big screen in real time, he said: "No way, did she say no bat involved?" He then protested to the on-field umpires before walking off the field.
In the wake of the decision, and Lancashire's loss in the semi-final, a number of social media comments using misogynistic language towards Redfern were posted.
"While the Club remains deeply frustrated and disappointed with the decision, Lancashire Cricket is equally clear that it does not condone the misogynistic comments that have appeared across social media in response. Such behaviour is unacceptable, does not reflect the values of our Club or the wider Red Rose family, and has no place in the game," continued Lancashire's statement.
Redfern, who has 11 international caps as a player, became the first female full-time professional umpire on the ECB books in 2022. She became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a T20 Blast match the following year, and was also the first woman to officiate in an England men's international match in 2021.
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