SAMTHING WRONG IN SCHEDULE
ENGLAND’S Sam Billings says the likes of Ben Stokes being unable to commit to all formats because of the unrelenting schedule is a “wake-up call” for cricket.
After the T20 World Cup triumph, hero Moeen Ali branded the start of an ODI series against Australia four days on as “horrible.”
Now Somerset have announced rising star Will Smeed had signed a white-ball only deal with the county.
Smeed, 21, rubber-stamped his reputation as a big prospect with the The Hundred’s first-ever century this year but has turned his back on the red-ball game, having yet to make his first-class debut.
Superstar all-rounder Stokes retired from ODIs earlier in the summer and Kent star Billings (below) feels these are warnings with the increase of T20 franchise leagues meaning more could follow Smeed’s example.
“Unless something drastically changes, I think it will become more and more common,” said Billings, who will sacrifice a stint at the IPL and instead captain his county at the start of next season in a bid to play in The Ashes.
“The schedule doesn’t allow all-format players moving forward. Ben Stokes is the prime example.
“If that’s not a wake-up call to whoever runs the schedule it should be, because your biggest players need to prioritise playing for England and get a bit more order.
“Will Smeed has made a very smart decision. His game is all around whiteball cricket. It’s so individual and it shouldn’t be talked down upon.”
While there is dismay at England playing an ODI series against Australia, starting at Adelaide in the early hours of tomorrow morning, so soon after the World Cup, Billings is a beneficiary of the three matches going ahead.
The 31-year-old was last selected in the format in July 2021 but, with several players unavailable, the wicketkeeper/batsman has a chance to stake a claim for the 50-over World Cup in India in 2023.
“It’s up to me to just put my hat in the ring,” he added.
“I’m just going to give it a good go. Leading up to that World Cup, that’s all you can do.”