Ashes Hobart Test: Sam Billings in line for Test debut- England wicket-keeper Sam Billings is in line for Test debut after covering 820 kilometres post a nine-hour drive from Sydney to Hobart. Follow Ashes LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
With Jos Buttler suffering a fractured finger and Jonny Bairstow’s thumb injury, Billings is likely to make Test debut for England. He got a well-deserved phone call from England with just 90-120 minutes difference for his UK flight after his heroics for Sydney Thunders in BBL. He now looks set to pick up the glove and go straight from T20Is to Test
Ashes Hobart Test: Sam Billings likely to make Test debut after covering 820 km to join England camp to address emergency call
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With flights considered risky amid ongoing COVID cases in Australia, Billings completed a 12-hour journey from the Gold coast. He followed the nail-biting fourth Ashes Test finish during his hotel quarantine via TV.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster. I was probably 90 minutes to two hours away from getting on that plane back to the UK. It all happened pretty quickly,” Billings told as quoted by Cricket Australia.
“I went to the airport, got the rental car and cracked on, basically. It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. For the first 24 hours I hadn’t heard anything or seen anyone, I’m sure I’ll find out later this week if I’m playing,” he added.
But Billings entry in England Playing XI is still under consideration after Ollie Pope’s decent performance in Sydney Test as substitute keeper. He is not guaranteed a game on Thursday.
He has played 25 ODIs & 33 T20Is for England in limited-overs matches.
In BBL 2021-22, he amassed 284 runs in 9 matches at an average of 40.57 which might not be the average of a number of England batsmen in the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 (except Jonny Bairstow, average 48+).
“Regardless of the format, regardless of circumstances, with experience and maturity you can get a sense of where your game is at. I’ve been playing and scoring runs. I’m 100 per cent ready if required,” he signed off.
Ashes Hobart Test: Sam Billings likely to make Test debut after covering 820 km to join England camp to address emergency call
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