England Lions star Sam Billings claims he returns to Kent as a better player following his winter of overseas action.

After England Performance Programme clinics in Sri Lanka and South Africa before Christmas, the 23-year-old wicketkeeper returned to South Africa at the turn of the year with the Lions.

Billings began the tour with a half-century alongside Test star and Lions skipper Jonathan Trott in a warm-up against a Gauteng Xi in Soweto and although he was overlooked for the three-Test series against South Africa A, the Pembury ace played in four of the five One-Day games, one of them behind the stumps ahead of Jonny Bairstow.

After returning home late last week, Billings reflected: “It was really good, a great experience, with lots of competitive cricket.

“If I’m honest I didn’t expect to play in the Test matches, but it was nice to get a game in the warm-up. There was nothing more I could have done in terms of being ready to play and it gave me some invaluable one-on-one time with the coaches.

“I was at ease with not being involved, although even though you know you are not going to play, of course you are disappointed, as you want to play as much as you can.

“I got the opportunity in the One-Day stuff and it was a good experience, it was nice to contribute and nice to show a little of what I can do, which was the key thing for me.”

Billings - the leading 50-over run-scorer in the country last season - revealed: “(Kent teammate) Darren Stevens sent me a message and told me to just play my own game, not to change anything.

“That’s what I tried to do, though even though I got 50 off 30-odd balls in the fourth match I did not feel at my best, it was not as fluent as I can be.”

Billings claimed the tour will have lasting benefits for his career, adding: “Knowing you can do it at that level is a definite positive.”

He said: “It’s a great opportunity to learn. You pick up things every day from just being around the players, there’s a reason why they have played international cricket and we have not yet.

“Just batting alongside Trotty in the warm-up game and Ben Stokes in the One-Dayer was invaluable, and they are a great bunch too.

“I was talking on the bus to Tim Bresnan and he said if you’re in the (ECB) system, and you give 100% then it’s impossible not to improve, you’re working with the best coaches and surrounded by the best players.”

He added: “Without doubt I’ve come back a better player and hopefully I can show that with my performances this season for Kent.

There’s not long til we crack on again, but I’m going to have some time off before getting back to it in March.”

The ICC World Cup kicks-off Down Under on Friday night, though Billings says he feels no bitterness despite being included in England’s initial 30-man squad for the tournament.

Billings said: “I’ve only really had one good year and there are some experienced internationals out there. It was nice to be in the mix with the initial 30 but there is no bitterness on my part that I’m not involved. I’ve grown up supporting England, and I’ll be cheering the boys on.”