Kent wicketkeeper Sam Billings has been named in England’s latest squad for an ODI against Ireland in Dublin on Friday, May 8.

On Tuesday afternoon Billings and fellow keeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow were both named in an initial 11-man squad to face Ireland, with James Taylor skippering a new-look lineup which will be bolstered after England’s third and final Test in the West Indies later this week.

In December Billings was named alongside James Tredwell in the ECB’s provisional 30-man squad for the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, though unlike his former skipper he did not make the final 15-man party and remains uncapped.

The 23-year-old gloveman only took over as first-choice behind the stumps at the Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, a year ago as coach Jimmy Adams and captain Rob Key backed him to take over from former England keeper Geraint Jones.

Big-hitting Billings has been a one-day stand-out for Kent since making his List A debut against the Netherlands in July 2011, averaging 45 runs with the bat in his 28 innings to date.

Pembury ace Billings was on duty with the England performance programme in Sri Lanka before Christmas and was on the England Lions tour to South Africa in the New Year.

Earlier this month he told the KM: “When you’re kids in the playground, what’s your goal? – to play international sport, it doesn’t change. I want to play for England, hopefully for a long time and to be consistent at that level.

“There’s no point being a part of something if you don’t want to the best you can be. Ultimately, you want to be No.1, not only as a team but also as an individual.”