Sam: Lions let me show I can live up to Test Billing

SAM Billings believes captaining the England Lions against South Africa offers his best chance of earning a recall to the Test squad.

The England Lions squad, who have all left their respective Hundred and Royal London one-day cup squads, gathered in Canterbury ahead of the start of a four-day game against South Africa today.

Harry Brook and Will Jacks were among the 13-man squad, which will be captained by Billings, to face the tourists, who had the better of England in both the Twenty20 and the ODI series earlier in the summer.

Durham great Paul Collingwood will take charge of the side for the match, which takes place ahead of the first Test at Lord’s starting next Wednesday.

Billings believes the shift to red-ball cricket, after the Kent wicketkeeper captained the Oval Invincibles during their victory over Welsh Fire on Sunday, is a challenge, but one the players are used to.

“Whatever the schedule is, it is what it is but, for me, I want to press my claims to try and get back in that Test squad,” the 31-year-old said.

“I had a taste of it and this seemed like the best option for me and my cricket moving forward, so it was a pretty easy decision.

“It is challenging but, like I said, it is something that you’ve just kind of got to find a way to manoeuvre around and adapt to.”

Billings believes a number of players have points to prove, with Ollie Robinson, Keaton Jennings and Craig Overton among those hoping to earn an England recall.

“It’s an opportunity, of course, for individuals to pursue their ambitions,” he said.

“It definitely is the best way in a schedule where there’s not much red-ball cricket around the Test series, so it is the perfect opportunity to do so.”

When asked about Robinson, who has not featured for the national side since January and has had to contend with a back injury, but was named in England’s 14-man Test squad, Billings believes he is fully fit.

“He seems as he always is,” he said. “If he’s fit and firing, he is a huge asset to any team, and he also provides that edge. It’s nice to get the ball in the back spaces and, again, he’s played a lot of cricket.

“So, as a senior bowler in this side, there’s definitely someone I can lean on to ultimately get the best out of.”

South Africa could, however, be without fast bowler Kagiso Rabada for the tour match through injury.