Sam Billings steps down as Kent’s red-ball captain

Billings, who made three Check appearances in 2022 – most not too long ago in England’s seven-wicket win in opposition to India at Edgbaston – opted out of a stint with Kolkata Knight Riders within the IPL to give attention to his position at Kent.

Nevertheless, he has endured a grim run of kind within the County Championship, making 92 runs in 10 innings, together with three geese and a highest rating of 31.

Kent are at the moment second-from-bottom of the Division One standings, with one win from seven matches, and Billings’ kind prompted him to go away himself out of their most up-to-date Championship match, a five-wicket loss to table-toppers Surrey at Canterbury.

“Kent cricket can affirm that males’s captain, Sam Billings, has determined to step down as captain in red-ball cricket for the remainder of the 2023 season,” a membership assertion learn.

“Jack Leaning, who captained Kent in opposition to Surrey final day out within the Championship, will captain the aspect in Sam’s absence.

“Billings will proceed to steer the aspect within the Vitality Blast and stays the membership captain in males’s cricket.”

His fortunes as white-ball captain have been somewhat higher, nonetheless. Kent have gained their final six T20 Blast video games below Billings’ management, and are at the moment fourth within the South Group, with a spot within the quarter-finals inside their grasp.

Kent have named a 13-man squad for his or her journey to Northamptonshire, who’re the one group under them within the present Division One standings.

Arafat Bhuiyan, Arshdeep Singh and Matt Quinn all function after not being concerned within the Blast, whereas Ben Compton is about to fit again in on the high of the order. Harry Finch is included within the first XI squad after impressing within the Second XI Championship, Michael Hogan and Grant Stewart have been rested to give attention to this week’s Blast contest in opposition to Sussex.