HERO BILLINGS COULD MISS OUT ON SUNDAY
Sam Billings steered England to victory in their oneday warm-up match against India A then admitted he may have to step aside when the series gets under way.
Billings, fresh from a stint in the Big Bash with Sydney Sixers, showed a cool head and solid technique as he made 93 in 85 balls to guide the tourists past a challenging target of 305 in Mumbai.
The Kent batsman was filling in at number three, the position usually occupied by Joe Root, who has delayed his arrival after becoming a father for the first time at the weekend.
Root will be back by the time Sunday’s first one-day international takes place in Pune, star all-rounder Ben Stokes must be accommodated after being rested on Tuesday and Jason Roy (62) and Alex Hales (40) made valuable scores alongside Billings.
All of which leaves the 25-year-old vulnerable despite his latest eye-catching contribution.
He scored 62 as a make- shift opener in his previous ODI in Bangladesh, deputising on that occasion for the absent Alex Hales, but appears to accept there is a pecking order to climb.
Asked if he needed a score to press his claims, Billings said: “It feels like that every time I bat. It’s a great thing for English cricket to have Joe Root coming back into the side and Ben Stokes coming back into the side ... they’re two of the best in the world.
“It’s a strong squad and they make the team even stronger.
“You can’t really afford to be disappointed or feel sorry for yourself, it’s professional sport. Joe Root is one of the best batsmen in the world, top three without a doubt.
“On a long tour or in tournament play, be the Champions Trophy (in the summer), the bigger the squad the bet- ter.EverytimeIgoouttobat I try to do the best I can and try to show people what I can do.”
Billings is certainly doing that at present, underlining his top-order potential having originally been selected as a lower-order power hitter.
He also keeps wicket and is willing to do whatever it takes to play a part in England’s white-ball development. “Today I was in a different role to what I’m normally accustomed to, but I just try to offer as many options as I can really.
“I’m going to work hard as I can in all aspects of my game. If something happens to Jos Buttler I want to be the back-up keeper.”