Test spot in Sam’s sights after seven
HE may only be 25years-old and still well short of his 50th firstclass appearance for the county, yet Sam Billings is already ensuring his name will soon be added to Kent’s dynasty of legendary wicketkeepers.
The England One Day International hogged centre stage on the opening day of his club’s 165th Canterbury Week fixture against Worcestershire by taking seven catches – a feat never achieved by the likes of Geraint Jones, Alan Knott, Leslie Ames, Godfrey Evans, Jack Hubble, Fred Huish and ‘Hopper’ Levett.
The young gloveman beamed an impish grin upon realising he had become only the second Kent keeper behind Steve Marsh to take more than six catches in an innings. For the record, Marsh made seven dismissals against Durham at Canterbury in1994, having already set a then world record by claiming eight catches and scoring a century against Middlesex at Lord’s in 1991.
“I didn’t realise the significance of taking seven catches at the time, but it’s a tremendous honour considering some of the names who have kept for this club,” said Billings, who can already boast the record for scoring the fastest century ever by a Kent keeper.
“It’s always a proud moment when you get five catches as a keeper, but not many people pick up on it because it’s almost expected of you.
“But I’ve no shame in saying that I want to become the best wicketkeeper in England in all formats of the game. That’s my goal because I still believe there is a place up for grabs at the highest level for the best keeper/batsman out there. I’ve got some work to do to emulate the likes of ‘Knotty’ at Kent, but in terms of modern-day county cricketers, I want to be up there with the likes of James Foster and Chris Read in terms of consistency.”
Four of Billings’ catches on the opening day came off the bowling of Mitchell Claydon who recorded five for 42 – his best Championship figures since joining the county in 2013.
In tandem with Matt Coles – firing on all cylinders following his recent return to the side – Claydon helped set a testing examination for an inexperienced and injury hit Worcestershire top order.
Only Joe Clarke looked comfortable for an extended period by top-scoring with 69, but plaudits also went to emergency opener George Rhodes. In for the injured Brett D’Oliveira, Rhodes took 43 minutes to get off the mark and went on to bat 160 minutes in all for a stoical 16 before being prized out by on-loan Nottinghamshire seamer Will Gidman to a catch by, that man Billings, of course.
Having been skittled for 211, Worcestershire’s attack failed to extract the life and bounce Coles and Claydon had allowing Kent’s openers Sean Dickson and Daniel Bell-Drummond a more comfortable ride in posting 74 for the first wicket.
On Ladies Day, the second day of the world’s oldest cricket festival, Bell-Drummond, fresh from his century for England Lions, proved an early casualty for 37 after being caught in the cordon. A rare disappointment during his glorious summer of run-scoring on what was his 23rd birthday.