More on KentOnline
Home Canterbury Sport Article
Sam Billings has been named in the England squad for two upcoming ODI series and the ICC Champions Trophy though Kent skipper Sam Northeast has again been overlooked.
Billings has been called up for the Royal London ODI Series against Ireland starting next Friday (May 5) at Bristol and is also in a 15-man squad for the Royal London ODI series against South Africa and the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in England and Wales in June.
With Jos Buttler on IPL duty next week, Billings is set to start behind the stumps against Ireland ahead of Jonny Bairstow.
There had been calls for Northeast's inclusion after some fine performances for Kent last summer and in the North v South Series in Abu Dhabi last month.
His form continued into this season with an imperious unbeaten 173 in last week's drubbing of Sussex the highlight, but he has once again been overlooked.
National Selector James Whitaker said: “We have made encouraging progress over the past 18 months in white ball cricket and the squads selected reflect consistency and give options across all disciplines.
“As we build-up to the ICC Champions Trophy in June, matches against Ireland and South Africa are very important in their own right as we aim to win both series.”
The players selected in the Ireland squad will report to Bristol on Thursday, May 4.
England 14-man squad versus Ireland, Royal London ODI Series
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Capt.)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Sam Billings (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Northamptonshire)
Steven Finn (Middlesex)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
England 15-man squad versus South Africa, Royal London ODI Series and the ICC Champions Trophy
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) (Capt.)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire)
Sam Billings (Kent)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire)
Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jason Roy (Surrey)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
David Willey (Yorkshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Mark Wood (Durham)
Fixtures
Royal London ODI Series (Ireland)
Friday May 5 vs Ireland, The Brightside Ground, Bristol
Sunday May 7 vs Ireland, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Royal London ODI Series (South Africa)
Wednesday May 24 vs South Africa, Headingley, Leeds
Saturday May 27 vs South Africa, The Ageas Bowl, Southampton
Monday May 29 vs South Africa, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
ICC Champions Trophy
Thursday June 1 vs Bangladesh, Kia Oval, London
Tuesday June 6 vs New Zealand, SSE SWALEC, Cardiff
Saturday June 10 vs Australia, Edgbaston, Birmingham