Sam Billings has spoken of his desire to earn a recall to the England Test team, having made his debut in the final Ashes Test after Jos Buttler was sidelined through injury.
However, Billings did not make the squad for the recent series against the West Indies, with Ben Foakes given the gloves. England lost that series 1-0 after suffering a comprehensive ten wicket defeat in Grenada and, having won just one of their last 17 Test matches, captain Joe Root has faced calls to step down.
There is not an obvious replacement for Root as skipper, though, with vice-captain Ben Stokes expressing his reluctance to do the job earlier this year. As a result, Billings has been touted in some quarters as a potential surprise alternative to take over, given he is now in his fifth year as Kent captain.
And Billings himself has touted his "leadership experience" as something he feels can help him earn a recall to the Test side. Speaking to the PA news agency, Billings said: "I proved my method, gameplan and process works in Test match cricket.
"I've got the technique and mentality that I know can be successful in Test cricket. I took a lot of confidence from that. I would have liked more runs but moving forward, when I do get an opportunity again, it’s really valuable to have that experience banked.
"The other dimension is I think I can really impact that group and that environment in a really positive mindset moving forward. Leadership experience does of course help and needing senior players to step up in that environment, as the white-ball side have shown, that’s another element I can offer to the environment."
Billings also admitted his disappointment at being dropped for the West Indies tour and said that playing Test cricket is "something I really want to pursue". He added: "I was disappointed, I’ll be honest, any time you don’t make an England squad you’re always disappointed and there would probably be an issue if you weren’t.
"But I understand and I had a really good conversation with Andrew Strauss and the clarity around the wicketkeeping position. I respect his honesty and as players all you want is clarity.
"I’m pretty at ease with where I’m at in terms of my game, I know that if I’m regularly scoring runs and keeping well as I did in Hobart there’s no reason I can’t compete for that position. I’ve got a taste of Test cricket now and it’s something I really want to pursue.
"At the moment that avenue is in the hands, quite literally, of Ben Foakes so all I can do is put pressure on when I can."
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