Sam knows it’s now or never to deliver goods
AS Sam Billings swished his bat in anger after flicking Ashley Nurse straight to midwicket during England’s one-day win against West Indies on Friday, it was hard not to sympathise.
He had made a mature half-century in conditions demanding care and attention, but that was only part of the point. For the hyper-talented Billings, one-day caps have become like nuggets of gold. A fifty was two steps forward and one aggravating walk back to the pavilion.
Since playing in all five games of England’s home series against New Zealand in 2015 — the series in which Eoin Morgan’s team first embraced fearless cricket — Billings has appeared in only three 50-over internationals. He has made 62, 35 and now 52: good but not unanswerable.
‘Of course it’s frustrating,’ he said. ‘You get one game in Bangladesh and get 60-odd but if you get a ton you really press your claim.
‘Moeen Ali said to me when I got out here that you’d take 50 over getting nought. I take confidence from that. But it’s about adjusting and not just getting a pretty 50 then giving it away.’ As much as anyone, Billings embodies the craze for 360-degree batting that has swept county cricket. England desperately want him to succeed. It’s just that competition in their oneday side is fiercer than it has ever been. The 25-yearold is getting his chance while Alex Hales recovers from a broken hand, and captain Morgan has already made it clear Hales — who averaged 61 in one-day internationals in 2016 — will resume his opening partnership with Jason Roy before this summer’s Champions Trophy.
‘Sam’s got to keep churning out the runs,’ said Morgan. ‘Alex is a formidable player and has scored a lot of runs when we’ve won games.’
But a hundred for Billings in today’s second game in Antigua, or in Thursday’s series finale in Barbados, would set the selectors a poser. ‘It’s good for the side that there’s so much competition,’ said Billings. ‘But I’ve really got to make these chances count and make three figures. I feel I’m in a good place to do that.’
The second match will be played on the same pitch as the first, meaning batsmen will have to negotiate an even more tired surface.
The successive reversesweeps for four by Billings off Nurse confirmed he had the game to prosper, while Morgan’s intelligent
NATHAN LYON produced the best figures by an Australia spinner for almost a century as Steve Smith’s side embarrassed India again yesterday. Lyon took eight for 50 on the first day of the second Test in Bangalore as India were skittled for 189. The Aussies, who won the first Test, were 40-0 in reply. hundred showed England could get close to 300 without throwing caution to the wind — and in Antigua now it is generally blowing a small gale.
‘It’s a bit old-fashioned in a way,’ said Billings. ‘Keep wickets in hand and make hay towards the back end of 20 overs. Morgy’s was as good a hundred as you’ll see, because the batting conditions weren’t there. That was the difference between the sides.’