Expressing his frustration over getting limited chances in the playing XI, England batsman Sam Billings has said he is keen to grab the limited opportunities with both hands.
The right-handed batsman, who made his debut against New Zealand in 2015, has played only eight One-Day Internationals so far despite scoring heavily in List A cricket. The 25-year-old has scored over 1,300 runs in 50-overs cricket in the domestic circuit but he is still finding it tough to cement a spot in the first XI.
In eight ODIs, Billings has scored 239 runs including a half-century in Bangladesh and a 56-ball 52 in the first match of the ongoing series against the West Indies. However, he is likely to make way for regular opener Alex Hales when he recovers from injury. But Billings is unfazed by it and is looking forward to score big to press his claim for a regular spot in the team.
“Of course it’s frustrating,” he said after laying the platform for England’s comfortable 45-run win over West Indies.
“You get one game in Bangladesh and get 60-odd but if you get a ton you really press your claim. Moeen Ali said to me when I got out here that you’d take 50 over getting nought. I take confidence from that. But it’s about adjusting and not just getting a pretty 50 then giving it away. It’s good for the side that there’s so much competition. But I’ve really got to make these chances count and make three figures. I feel I’m in a good place to do that.”
Speaking on his gutsy half-century against the West Indies, the player, who is known for his unconventional shot-making, said:
“It’s a bit old-fashioned in a way. Keep wickets in hand and make hay towards the back-end of 20 overs. Morgy’s [Morgan] was as good a hundred as you’ll see, because the batting conditions weren’t there. That was the difference between the sides.”
Meanwhile, England skipper Eoin Morgan has hinted Hales would be drafted back into the team straightaway when he achieves full fitness.
“Sam’s got to keep churning out the runs. Alex is a formidable player and has scored a lot of runs when we’ve won games,” Morgan concluded.