Sam Billings ready to take Ashes opportunity with both hands

GEORGE DOBELL: The Kent star was 90 minutes away from returning to the UK when he got the call-up. Despite playing in the BBL in recent weeks he believes his “game is in a good place” if he wins selection for the fifth Test in Hobart

Sam Billings insists he is “100 per cent” ready to make a Test debut, despite a late call-up to the England squad and limited experience of keeping at first-class level.

Billings was as little as 90 minutes away from boarding a flight back to the UK when the call came in from the England management to join the Test squad in Sydney.

But despite admitting he needed a few minutes to think over the offer and despite a lack of red-ball cricket in recent months, Billings says his “game is in a good place” if he wins selection.

Billings owes his call-up to injuries to Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. Buttler, who has kept for England throughout this Ashes series, boarded a flight back to the UK on Monday (January 10) after sustaining a serious injury to his hand. Bairstow, his deputy, also sustained a thumb injury during the fourth Test which is likely to prohibit him from taking the gloves in the final Test in Hobart.

Although Ollie Pope did an admirable job with the gloves as a substitute in Australia’s second innings – he claimed a record-equalling four catches – he had only played six first-class matches (including the Hamilton Test of 2019) as a designated keeper. As a result, England may be reluctant to ask him to keep in another Test.

^{Billings believes his BBL form stands him in good stead ahead of a possible Test debut (Chris Hyde/Getty Images)}

Billings is hardly a regular keeper at first-class level either, though. Indeed, he has been the designated keeper just once in a first-class game since February 2019. But he is a regular in white-ball cricket and has spent the last few weeks as Sydney Thunder’s keeper in the Big Bash League. He has also done the job for England in six T20Is and three ODIs.

Either way, he has been in good form in the BBL – he is averaging 40.57 with the bat and has been keeping nicely – and feels well-placed to take this opportunity.

“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster,” he says of his call-up. “I was probably 90 minutes away from getting on that flight back to the UK. It all happened pretty quickly.

“I am 100 per cent ready if required. Of course, you have to apply yourself differently for a Test match. But I have been playing consistent cricket and scoring runs. It doesn’t really matter what format it is. It’s more about rhythm, confidence and mindset. Having that consistent cricket behind me definitely does help.

“My game is in a good place. It has been in the longer format for the last three years for Kent. I have scored consistent runs. As long as you get your mind into a really good place, it’s about applying yourself to whatever format you need to really. I’ve been on the fringes of the Test side in the last eight or nine months. It’s something I’ve really wanted to do.”

^{Jos Buttler has flown home after suffering a serious hand injury in Sydney (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)}

Billings’ success as a white-ball player has somewhat limited his first-class opportunities. He played just four Championship matches for Kent in 2021, for example, and passed 50 only once. Indeed, since the start of 2020, he has played only six first-class games and has a top score of 72. And while he has spent a fair bit of time at the IPL, he has often found himself not playing.

“People have looked at my IPL situation in a funny way,” Billings says. “As a non-contracted [England] player, you have to try and maximise those opportunities as much as possible. There's no right or wrong with any of this stuff. But it has hampered, I suppose, my chances of playing for four-day cricket and ultimately Test cricket.

“But it’s always been in my best interests to progress my career and ultimately play for England and the white-ball opportunities have obviously been far closer than the red ball.”

It has felt as if Billings has been on the fringes of a major international breakthrough for several years. He missed out on selection for the 2019 World Cup squad due to a serious shoulder injury and, despite making a maiden international century against Australia in 2020, has been unable to command a regular place in England’s limited-overs side.

For that reason, he had been looking forward to the T20I tour to the Caribbean. He was likely to have been England’s keeper throughout the five-match series starting on January 22 and knows, that by making himself available for the Test side, he could compromise his availability. He admits he needed a few minutes to decide whether to take up this offer. 

^{Billings is a regular around the white-ball teams (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

But the England management assured him they would ensure he made it to Barbados, the venue for the T20Is, as soon as possible. As a result, he is likely to be available for three or four of the matches. In Billings’ absence, Tom Banton may be required to keep in the first game. Phil Salt could also keep if required. 

“I had a few moments on my own in my hotel room and weighed it up,” Billings says. “I've done a lot of time running the drinks and I just need to play cricket. I’ve waited long enough for a consistent run of games in any format. I've done way too much running the drinks. So I wanted clarity that I wasn't going to compromise the opportunity in the West Indies. I feel in really good form in that format and really wanted to make the most of that opportunity.

“I think I got that assurance that I would make it to the West Indies whether I got the opportunity [in Hobart] or not. So it was kind of on that proviso that I could do both.”

The England tour party flew to Hobart on Monday after a 100-minute delay caused by Covid-related staff shortages at Sydney airport. They will have a day off on Tuesday and resume training on Wednesday. The final Test, another day-night affair, starts on Friday (January 14).

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22

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England call Sam Billings into Test squad for Ashes finale at Hobart

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