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Kent Cricket wicketkeeper Sam Billings named in England squad to face New Zealand in T20 game at Emirates Old Trafford

Sam Billings Picture: Barry Goodwin
Sam Billings Picture: Barry Goodwin

Kent wicketkeeper Sam Billings has been named in a 13-man England squad to face New Zealand in the NatWest International T20 at Emirates Old Trafford on Tuesday June 23.

Billings, who turned 24 on Monday, is one of five five players who have yet to play an international T20 game. The others are Reece Topley (Essex), James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Northamptonshire) and Mark Wood (Durham). Only Topley and Vince are not involved in the current ODI series against New Zealand.

The Kent man has played all four matches so far against New Zealand in the 50-over series, though he did not get to bat in Wednesday's record-breaking seven-wicket win at Trent Bridge, which levelled the series ahead of the final game, at Chester-le-Street, on Saturday.

National selector, James Whitaker, said: “This (T20) match against New Zealand allows us another opportunity to look at players relatively new to international cricket as we look to build a squad for the World T20 in India this winter.

“The squad is made up of players who have demonstrated their ability in domestic cricket and fully deserve a chance to continue their progress against a very good New Zealand side.

"We have already seen our limited overs cricket begin to move in the right direction which is exciting but we are all aware that we have plenty more to do if we are going to challenge the very best sides in the world on a regular basis.”

Full squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire) (wicketkeeper), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Adil Rashid Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Essex),James Vince (Hampshire), David Willey (Northamptonshire),Mark Wood (Durham).

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