England star Sam Billings has snubbed next year’s IPL in order to focus on country cricket with Kent in a bid to force his way into his country's Test plans. The 31-year-old was expected to be part of the Kolkata Knight Riders squad but took to Twitter to confirm he will not feature in India's premier franchise tournament in 2023.
"Have taken the tough decision that I won't be taking part in the next IPL," Billings said in a tweet on Monday morning. "Looking to focus on longer format cricket at the start of the English summer with @kentcricket." The wicketkeeper-batsman was picked up by the 2012 and 2014 IPL champions for Rs 2 crore (US$ 266,000 approx. then) prior to the 2022 season.
He played eight matches and scored 169 runs in his eight innings at a strike rate of 122.46 and average of 24.14. IPL teams have until Tuesday to announce their list of retentions. The auction ahead of the 2023 season is scheduled for December 23 in Kochi. Billings is still due to take part in the Big Bash League this winter in Australia, having been drafted as an overseas player for Brisbane Heat.
His availability will come as a huge boost to Kent, who will once again compete in Division One of the Championship in 2023, having finished fifth this year. Billings has played 82 FC games and scored 3536 games at an average of 33, and has an average of 41 in 101 matches at List A level.
He's had a brief foray into Test cricket, having made his debut in the final Test of the 2021-22 Ashes series following injuries to Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow. He made further appearances against New Zealand and India over the summer.
Like many, Billings watched on as his England teammates won the T20 World Cup for the second time yesterday. After some tight bowling from Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes, England began chasing 138 in front of a raucous crowd predominantly sporting Pakistan.
With an impressive bowling lineup featuring the likes of the electric Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, along with the nifty leg break spinner Shadab Khan, England fell to 45-3 and 84-4. But, under intense pressure at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, Stokes wrote himself further into the folklore of English cricket with his unbeaten half century as he provided another significant contribution to another historic win for the team.
Back in 1992, when England faced Pakistan in the world cup final at the same venue of the MCG, Imran Khan and co prevailed over Graham Gooch and his men. But 30 years later and in a different format of the game, England emerged victorious and became the first side to hold both the 50-over and 20-over world titles at the same time.
England also joined West Indies as the only sides to have won the T20 World Cup twice, after winning their maiden trophy on Caribbean soil 12 years ago.
Billings, who last played T20I cricket in January, tweeted in capital letters: “GET IN THERE LADS!!!!!” as England captured their second major trophy in three years.
