Billings in Trophy squad

Sam Billings has been named in the latest England ODI squads but Kent skipper Sam Northeast has again been overlooked.

Billings has been called up for the Royal London ODI Series against Ireland starting next Friday (May 5) at Bristol and is in a 15man squad for the Royal London ODI series against South Africa and the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England and Wales in June. There had been calls for Northeast’s inclusion after some fine performances for Kent last summer and in the North v South Series in Abu Dhabi last month.

His form continued into this season with an unbeaten 173 in last week’s drubbing of Sussex the highlight but he’s missed out again.

National selector James Whitaker said: “We have made encouraging progress over the past 18 months in white ball cricket and the squads selected reflect consistency and give options across all disciplines.

“As we build up to the ICC Champions Trophy in June, matches against Ireland and South Africa are important in their own right as we aim to win both series.”

The players selected in the Ireland squad will report to Bristol on Thursday, May 4. Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), David Willey (Yorkshire), Mark Wood (Durham). Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

v Ireland (Bristol).

Ball hit an unbeaten 116 as Kent 2nds eased to a 155-run win over the Chris Gayle Academy at Beckenham on Tuesday.

Kent closed on 334-4 (Kai Appleby 57) from their 50 overs and in reply the Academy made 179-5.

1-83, 2-83, 3-87, 4-88, 5-114, 6-162, 7-193, 8-203, 9-240, 10-259.

TP Milnes 17-2-75-1, WS Davis 20.5-5-75- 4, AP Palladino 21-8-34-1, LM Reece 13-3-38-3, SJ Thakor 2- 0-14- 0, AL Hughes 7-4-40, BMAJ Mendis 4-1-11-1. LM Reece b Parnell .............................0 BA Godleman c Gidman b Stevens ......0 SJ Thakor c Coles b Stevens .............44 WL Madsen c Gidman b Parnell ........56 D Smit lbw b Stevens........................11 GC Wilson b Stevens ...........................0 AL Hughes c Rouse b Stevens...........12 BMAJ Mendis c Rouse b Harris .........15 TP Milnes b Stevens ...........................1 AP Palladino c Bell-Drummond b Coles .. 5 WS Davis not out ................................8 Extras (lb5, nb2) .................................7 DJ Bell-Drummond c Hughes b Davis .. 23 SR Dickson lbw b Palladino .................2 JL Denly c Godleman b Davis ..............6 SA Northeast c Smit b Milnes............11 WRS Gidman c Wilson b Palladino.......3 DI Stevens lbw b Mendis...................90 WD Parnell b Milnes............................8 MT Coles c Godleman b Reece............7 AP Rouse not out ..............................95 JAR Harris c Reece b Davis ...............32 JC Tredwell c Godleman b Madsen .....9 Extras (b4, lb13, w1, nb4) .................22 LM Reece c Coles b Harris ................14 BA Godleman c Tredwell b Stevens .....4 SJ Thakor c Denly b Parnell ................6 WL Madsen lbw b Coles ....................32 D Smit b Harris .................................11 GC Wilson lbw b Harris .....................97 AL Hughes c Rouse b Stevens...........12 BMAJ Mendis c Rouse b Stevens ......17 TP Milnes c Rouse b Harris ...............11 AP Palladino not out ..........................14 WS Davis c Northeast b Coles .............8 Extras (lb8, pen5)..............................13

PW L D BP Ps Notts................ 3 3 0 0 20 68 Kent................. 3 3 0 0 16 64 Northants......... 3 2 1 0 15 47 Worcester ........ 2 2 0 0 11 43 Gloucester ....... 3 1 1 1 13 34 Glamorgan ....... 3 0 2 1 15 20 Derbyshire ....... 2 0 2 0 8 8 Sussex............. 2 0 2 0 8 8 Leicestershire .. 3 0 2 1 15 4* Durham ........... 2 0 1 1 10 -33 * Leicestershire deducted 16 points * Durham deducted 48 points

Pictures: Gary Browne FM4751005, FM4751099 left Buy these pictures from kentonline.co.uk Wayne Parnell celebrates taking a wicket and, left, Adam Rouse plays a reverse sweep on his way to 95 not out against Derbyshire in Kent’s second innings 1-2, 2- 4, 3-91, 4-113, 5-113, 6-123, 7-131, 8-133, 9-140, 10-159. WD Parnell 15-5-46-2, DI...

Picture: Chris Davey Kent’s Sam Billings