SM
Bayern vs. Augsburg: 18 hrs 50 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Sam Billings wants a winning end to the summer to set him up for a busy winter

:Headline: Sam Billings wants a winning end to the summer to set him up for a busy winter:
The Kent captain is aiming to lift the team to their first silverware since 2009.
Sports Mole

Sam Billings is set to begin a bulging winter schedule next week but the Kent captain hopes to first finish the county season with a flourish in the Vitality Blast on Saturday.

After Finals Day, Billings goes to the United Arab Emirates on Monday and estimates he will not be back home until February 6, with England commitments and assignments in the Indian Premier League and Big Bash League lined up.

But at the top of his agenda is leading his boyhood county, a club he clearly cherishes playing for, to their first piece of silverware since winning Division Two of the County Championship back in 2009.

"It's going to be a pretty hectic winter but hopefully we can sign off the English summer with a T20 win," Billings said. "As a bloke who has been at the club since the age of eight it would mean everything.

"That's not to say that any other club or franchise that I play for means less, it's just a different kind of feeling. I'm a Kent boy through and through, you can appreciate that that has different emotions attached to it.

"I've no doubt that if we play well and stick to what we're good at, we'll have as good a chance as anyone."

This weekend marks Billings' first taste of Finals Day, where Kent play Sussex in the second semi-final after Hampshire have taken on Somerset. All four teams are from the South Group, where Kent finished on top of the pile.

They ended a quarter-final hoodoo – having lost their last four matches at that stage – by beating Birmingham Bears thanks in part to a stylish half-century from Billings and will have high hopes of replicating their 2007 success.

“It's going to be a pretty hectic winter but hopefully we can sign off the English summer with a T20 win. As a bloke who has been at the club since the age of eight it would mean everything.”
- Sam Billings

Billings' 56 from 37 balls was a high point in a seesaw summer where he also contracted Covid-19 but the England international, who has featured in 25 one-day internationals and 32 Twenty20s, believes he is entering his prime.

The 30-year-old, who has been named in England's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, added: "It's exciting because I feel that in terms of clarity with my game, I'm a lot more comfortable in terms of where my game is at.

"They talk about batters coming into your best years in your early 30s and hopefully that is the case. I definitely feel like I'm heading in that direction and at peace with where my game's at.

"Of course there's always stuff that you want to work on and need to work on. But I think it's a really exciting time with what's coming up: (Finals Day) then the IPL then the World Cup with Big Bash as well.

"(There are) some fantastic opportunities ahead and I'm very lucky to be involved in that."

While Billings is uncapped at Test level, he was drafted into England's squad as cover for their two-match series against New Zealand earlier this summer and may not be entirely out of the reckoning for an Ashes berth.

"(This summer has) been pretty eventful, I'm not going to lie," he added. "I haven't played as much as I would have liked but it's the kind of stuff that's been out of my control unfortunately, and for me to be around that Test bubble was amazing, a different experience and environment and one that I relished.

"It's definitely given me more motivation and enthusiasm for playing longer-format cricket and who knows, opportunities might present themselves down the line."

body check tags ::

amp_article__464233 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-09-17 17:49:49:
html db last update - 2021-09-17 17:49:49 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Sam Billings

Click here for more stories about Hampshire

Share this article now:
EC
Read Next:
Chris Jordan returns to Surrey and Phil Salt joins Lancashire
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Sam Billings Cricket
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Chris Jordan returns to Surrey and Phil Salt joins Lancashire
Two more years! Man City confirm Pep Guardiola contract extension
Reunion at Man United: Amorim 'has spoken' to Sporting star over 2025 transfer

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Top 20 Premier League managers who have taken charge of the most games in history

1

T2

Preview: Leicester vs. Chelsea - prediction, team news, lineups

2

PL

Which legendary striker was close to joining Manchester United in 2012?

NEW

3

WL

Preview: Celta Vigo vs. Barcelona - prediction, team news, lineups

4

PC

Chelsea set eye-watering Fernandez asking price amid Real Madrid interest?

5

CS

Preview: Arsenal vs. Nott'm Forest - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PA

Preview: Man City vs. Spurs - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PM

January move? Tottenham emerge as 'possible destination' for Chelsea ace

8

JM

Juventus, Napoli 'chase shock loan deal' for Chelsea outcast

9

JN

Shock transfer? Real Madrid 'considering mid-season move' for Man United star

10

ST


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .