The first ODI century was not enough to retain the fifth spot

Liam Livingstone doubts his maiden ODI century will be enough to keep him fifth in the batting order when England are at full strength.

Captaining the injured Jos Buttler in the Caribbean and with a host of Test stars absent due to a bottleneck in the touring schedule before Christmas, Livingstone is doing better than usual.

Accustomed to ending an innings from number six or seven, Livingstone seized his chance to come into play earlier with an audacious 124 balls rather than 85 to guide England to a series-leveling victory.

After missing five ODIs against Australia in September and then being recalled after struggling with form and fitness over the last two years, Livingstone underwent a breakneck turnaround.

But with Buttler, as well as Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook and potentially others including Jamie Smith, all vying for middle places in the future, Livingstone rejected the idea that his promotion was for good.

The 31-year-old said: “I don't think I'll ever play with five players for England in one-day cricket when we have a full squad, I know that.”

“This series was an opportunity for me to not only say what I thought, but also to try to show people that I mean what I say. I believe in my own abilities and it's nice when others believe in them.

“There are certainly people up there in the locker room who believe in it. To be in the middle of it all at the end was really special.”

I don't think I'll ever play at five for England in one-day cricket if we have a full squad, I know that

Liam Livingstone

Livingstone – who averaged 70 with the bat in his last seven innings, albeit slightly helped by three red innings – shared a crucial 140-run stand with his close friend Sam Curran on Saturday.

Curran was also a place or two higher than normal at number six, but justified his promotion and additional responsibility with a run-a-ball figure of 52, which was only the second time he had recorded a half-century in an ODI .

Curran, a regular in T20s where he bats better for both country and club, was also left out of the 50-over squad ahead of the Australia series in September and, unlike Livingstone, was not given a reprieve.

But Livingstone said: “Sam was one of the best batsmen in domestic cricket, T20 and The Hundred batting at threes and fours. I believe in Sam, I played a lot of cricket with him.

“We have been through a lot together and he is one of my best friends in English cricket. He played great, he’s one of the main reasons why we got the win.”

Livingstone's five-wicket win in Barbados on Wednesday to set up a game-winning move was poignant as his last trip to the Caribbean for the T20 World Cup in June coincided with a family bereavement.

When Livingstone reached his hundred, he took off his helmet, raised it and looked at the sky in tribute to his grandfather Brian. He then said: “He’ll look down on me quite proudly.”

It was also a special occasion for 23-year-old fast bowler John Turner, who took his first international wickets at the weekend just days after signing his England development contract.

Turner has been in the England squad for more than a year but net training and hydration were his only duties until Thursday's game against the West Indies and he has impressed so far.

“I saw a few things on Twitter to see if I actually existed and stuff like that,” Turner said with a smile.

By his own admission, Turner has been lagging behind in speed so far, but he knows he can reach 90mph, adding to England's growing portfolio of speedsters across all formats and conditions.

“I think the whole Pace project, as they call it, is really exciting,” Turner said. “There are quite a few of us working in this area.

“I'm still very raw, I'm very young, I still have a lot to learn and a lot to improve, but this is the best place to learn, you can see how small the scope is.”