Fierce competition driving up England standards

England are building towards the T20 World Cup next year in India

England's white-ball teams are some of the hardest sides to get selected for in world sport.

That's the view of Kent star Sam Billings, and the batsman might well have a valid point, such is the strength-in-depth in the England squads for the shorter forms of the game. The 29-year-old has found himself to be in and out of the ODI and T20 sides for his country in recent campaigns, but will be looking to secure a more prominent role ahead of the T20 World Cup next year, with England at 10/3 at Space Casino to win the major tournament.

Already the ODI world champions, after their thrilling victory over New Zealand in the final at Lord's in 2019, England are building towards the T20 World Cup next year in India. Coach Chris Silverwood and his side are unsurprisingly one of the favourites for the competition, especially considering the competition for places in the squad.

English players have been impressing in both the Indian Premier League and Big Bash competitions this year, and regular action in those high-pressure competitions can only be a good thing for the national side. Billings himself is just one of those players who has benefited from the tournaments in India and Australia, featuring for the likes of the Chennai Super Kings and the Sydney Sixers.

England boast some of the best batsman in the shorter formats, with of Jason Roy, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow all competing to feature alongside skipper Eoin Morgan. Even Test captain Joe Root, a more than accomplished batsman, has found himself falling out of the starting XI, such is the fierce competition for places.

Billings has had his say on the subject and claims there are not too many sides in sport where it is harder to get a place. The Kent man feels that any player who rests on their laurels are destined to lose their place in the side, with top-quality players waiting in the wings and looking to cement their own spots in the team.

These comments from Billings, of players driving the standards in the ODI and T20 squads, can only be music to the ears of Silverwood. For a number of years now, England have changed the way they have gone about white-ball cricket, with a much more aggressive style of play that many teams have struggled to cope with. England have no intention of steering in a different direction before the 2021 T20 World Cup and the matches against South Africa will provide good tests for the English players before the tournament.

Every ODI, and especially T20 match, takes on extra significance when a major competition is approaching, and even more so when very few players are guaranteed a starting role. Billings will be hoping he can put together some consistent form over the coming months, and ensure he is one of the players on that flight to India in October.