Sam is confident he can fit the Bill for Test team
SAM BILLINGS, the wicketkeeper-batter being touted as a left-field choice to replace Joe Root as England captain, believes he has the leadership experience to give the Test team a lift.
Root is under serious pressure after a dismal run of results, with an Ashes thrashing followed by the series defeat in the West Indies, a tour for which Billings admits he was ‘disappointed’ not to be selected.
Although Billings answered England’s frantic summons for the final Ashes Test in Hobart and performed well – if not spectacularly – on his Test debut, Ben Foakes was preferred for the trip to the Caribbean.
While Foakes is in possession behind the stumps heading into the summer programme, the Surrey gloveman’s batting tailed off in his three Tests back in the side as England slumped to a 1-0 series defeat.
And after a constructive chat with interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss, Billings is upbeat his Test career will not be restricted to a one-off appearance.
‘Any time you don’t make an England squad you’re always disappointed and there would probably be an issue if you weren’t,’ said Kent right-hander Billings. ‘But I understand and I had a really good conversation with Andrew Strauss and the clarity around the wicketkeeping position. I respect his honesty.
‘I’m pretty at ease with where I’m at in terms of my game, I know if I’m regularly scoring runs and keeping well as I did in Hobart there’s no reason I can’t compete for that position.
‘I’ve got a taste of Test cricket now and it’s something I really want to pursue. At the moment that avenue is in the hands, quite literally, of Ben Foakes so all I can do is put pressure on when I can.’
With England remaining in the doldrums and Root’s position as captain coming under intense scrutiny after their latest setback, Billings has been touted as a surprise alternative as skipper.
Even if that seems unlikely, Billings, an experienced limited-overs campaigner who led Kent to Vitality Blast glory last year, thinks his seniority is an extra string to his bow.
The 30-year-old, currently playing in the Indian Premier League, said: ‘I proved my method, gameplan and process works in Testmatch cricket. I’ve got the technique and mentality I know can be successful in Test cricket. I took a lot of confidence from that. I would have liked more runs but moving forward, when I do get an opportunity again, it’s really valuable to have that experience banked.
‘The other dimension is I think I can really impact that group and that environment in a really positive mindset moving forward.
‘Leadership experience does help and needing senior players to step up, as the white-ball side have shown, is another element I can offer to the environment.’
n GRAHAM THORPE has been named the new head coach of Afghanistan’s men’s team. The 52-year-old former batter left his role as England assistant coach in the wake of the 4-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia.