Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Duo hoping to make most of home comforts for Lions
‘It’s nice to get to a milestone like 1,000 First Class runs’
Sam Billings and Daniel BellDrummond will hope to make their mark for England Lions in familiar surroundings this week, writes ALEX HOAD.
The Kent pair are in the Lions squad facing Sri Lanka A and Pakistan A in a tri-series, the conclusion of which will be at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, on Monday (10.30am).
Billings kept wicket and took two catches before hitting 23 not out to help the Lions win the opening game of the series by seven wickets with more than 13 overs to spare at Cheltenham on Tuesday after the tourists were bowled out for 244. Pakistan thrashed Sri Lanka in the opening game on Monday.
Bell- Drummond made 22 before being caught behind after opening the reply along with skipper Dawid Malan of like this and perform.
“It’s nice to get to a milestone like 1,000 First Class runs – it’s only the second time in my career so it’s a proud moment.”
His latest knock came at a time when Kent were missing team-mates Sam Billings and Daniel Bell-drummond, on duty for England Lions, and prompted renewed calls for a call-up for Northeast who last wore the three lions for England under-19s in 2009.
He said: “I don’t know what the selection policy is but I’ve always said I just want to win games for Kent.
“It’s my job, especially as captain, and as a player to get scores on the board and hopefully as captain to guide us to wins and trophies. If anything happens, then so be it.
“I’ve heard nothing from anyone. I have just got to keep on doing what I’m doing. If Kent are going well then perhaps I might get selection down the line but I’m not too worried about that at the minute.” Middlesex. England’s second game of the series is a day-night game against Sri Lanka A at Northampton today (Thursday) with Pakistan A the opponents at Canterbury on Sunday (10.30am) and the series concluding against Sri Lanka A on Monday.
Kent Cricket chief executive Jamie Clifford hopes local fans will turn-out to support their home heroes and said: “Kent supporters enjoyed the opportunity last season to watch the Australian touring team play a four-day match against the county side and England take on Australia in the Women’s Ashes Test.
“Our members can come along to these games as part of their membership package and I am sure there will be much interest in these two games, especially with Sam and Daniel in the Lions’ ranks.
“I imagine Sam Northeast must also have been close to winning selection, such is the wonderful batting form he has been in for more than a year now and across all formats.”
He added: “Every young English cricketer wants to win England Lions selection because it is a vitally important step towards winning full international honours.
“I know just how much both Sam and DBD enjoyed playing in Lions colours last winter and how much they got out of the experience.
“As batsmen, they learned an awful lot from the high-quality coaching they received from the Lions coaching team – which included the likes of Graham Thorpe and Andy Flower – and they indisputably came back to us as better cricketers.”