Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ENGLAND v IRELAND
After hitting a speed bump in his career, Kent batter Sam is ready to nail down his place among England’s big-hitters
SAM BILLINGS believes his England career is over a “heavy speed bump” – and he is on course to nail down a place among their big hitters.
Kent batsman Billings emerged from a year of frustration by biffing an unbeaten 67 to give England a sixwicket win against Ireland on Thursday.
He was only playing because his county team-mate Joe Denly suffered a back spasm which has ruled him out of the three-match Royal London series, which continues at the Ageas Bowl today.
But he wasted no time in making up for the disappointment of missing last year’s World Cup triumph on home soil with a dislocated shoulder.
Billings, 29, said: “In a nutshell, my England career hit a heavy speed bump last year and it’s just about building that momentum back up. It has been very up and down over the last five years – I played those five games against New Zealand after the World Cup in 2015 and have played only 10 since then, the last being in 2018 in this format.
“The opportunities have been sporadic and this team is the hardest team to get into. But I have to keep on putting performances on the board when I get the opportunity and I have done all I can do in the first game with Ireland.
“This is a role I really enjoy and I have done it consistently over the last five years. I have averaged over 50 batting at five for Kent, at a strike rate of 120.
“I know how to go about it and it’s nice to see the hard work that I have put in come to fruition.
“In the past I have come in for the odd game here or there and put way too much pressure on myself – I got away from what I have done well in the past.
“It’s an opportunity that has come out of an unfortunate injury to one of my best mates but I have got to prove what I can offer to this team.
“I see this is actually just a starting point and I have easily my best cricket ahead of me. I have got no doubts about that.”