‘It’s about continuing that momentum’: Sam Billings optimistic he can pick up where he left off for England following injury problem after being named as vice-captain for New Zealand T20 tour
- Sam Billings dislocated a shoulder in March to curtail his momentum for England
- But he has now been named as vice-captain for the New Zealand T20 tour
- Billings is optimistic after England arrived in New Zealand on Wednesday
Sam Billings was handed consolation on Thursday for missing out on England’s World Cup victory when he was made vice-captain of the Twenty20 squad in New Zealand.
A dislocated shoulder suffered soon after making his highest international score – 87 in a Twenty20 against West Indies in March – ended Billings hopes of replacing the disgraced Alex Hales in the England squad that went on to thrillingly win the 50-over cup in July.
But now England have shown the Kent captain he remains a valued member of their set-up by preferring him to senior player Jonny Bairstow as Eoin Morgan’s deputy in an inexperienced squad for a five-match Twenty20 series starting on November 1.
Sam Billings hopes he can pick up where he left off on England’s tour of New Zealand
‘It’s great to get recognition and it’s a huge honour,’ said Billings after England arrived in Christchurch to begin preparations for a New Zealand tour that ends with two Tests. ‘It’s an opportunity to be recognised as a developing leader.
‘I’ve been on the fringes for the last four or five years. I’ve made some performances along the way, but we have such depth in our squad in terms of batsmen and keepers.
‘The last innings I played was that 87 in the West Indies. But then I got injured and missed a lot of the year. So even though that innings in the West Indies was a long time ago, it’s about continuing that momentum in an England shirt. For me, it’s about enjoying it and it’s good to be back playing.
‘The injury has given me some perspective. I just have to make the most out of every opportunity. For me, as a player, my focus is on being in that T20 World Cup squad.’
The Kent wicketkeeper has been named as a vice-captain for the T20 leg of the tour
While the move to install Billings as stand-in deputy for the rested Jos Buttler means the Kent man has a golden opportunity to stake a claim for next year’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia, it is a further blow for Bairstow.
One of England’s best multi-format players was left out of the Test leg of the New Zealand tour after a miserable Ashes series and has now seen his chances of keeping wicket in the Twenty20 games hit by the promotion of another gloveman in Billings.
England will play the first of two warm-up matches on Sunday when newcomers like Tom Banton, Pat Brown and Saqib Mahmood might have their first chance of senior England appearances.