Sam Billings played an incredible inning for England in the first ODI at Old Trafford against Australia. Billings walked the field when England was struggling at 57-4 and had to chase a 295-run goal. Jonny Bairstow was struggling on the other end and it looked like things were going to get really tough. But Billings and Bairstow stayed to get through that phase and ultimately made England believe they could win. Billings stayed until the end to score 118 runs and carried the game to the end. They ultimately lost by 19 runs, but Billings defended a permanent place in England’s middle order.
Despite his century against England, Billings admits he still couldn’t solidify his spot as the number five hitter. And it is due to the presence of Ben Stokes.
READ | 1st ODI: Hazlewood stars Australia as they beat England by 19 runs
His comment comes before the second ODI against Australia. In Game 1, right-hander Billings was able to play a 118-run knockout, but England fell short by 19 runs in Game 1.
England do not have Ben Stokes’ services for the ongoing ODI series against Australia as the off-roader is in New Zealand with his family.
“Ben Stokes is not here and I don’t think that, no matter how many races I do, I will stay in that place. All I can do is claim. Especially building towards the T20 material. There is a slot in that late to medium order. Hopefully this will continue to push my case in that format. Loss of form and injury, as I found out the hard way, can happen. As long as you’re putting yourself in the right position to be the next out-of-range cab, you never know when these opportunities will arise, ”Billings quoted ESPNCricinfo as saying.
England were chasing 295 in the first ODI against Australia and the hosts were in trouble at 57/4 when Billings and Jonny Bairstow met in the fold.
The duo formed a 113-race partnership, and Billings got tough on the course as it was slow to get off the blocks.
“Australia reminded me that I was 11 out of 32 quite consistently. At that time, we had no chance. I also felt terrible. She was not speaking anything fluently. But then you look at the other end and Jonny is also struggling and is one of the most fluid starters in world cricket. Nobody really got going, ”Billings said.
“But you could see that the Australian mentality definitely changed when we started to launch that partnership. The energy suddenly went from being very positive to a little more intense and we thought we were getting back into the game. Who knows, if Jonny and I would have hit for another five overs; If Moeen Ali and I could have partnered a bit … Yeah, it was a great question. But in that situation it is about trying to deepen the game and give us some opportunity, “he added.
Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood put on outstanding performances to give the visitors a victory in the first ODI. Marsh and Maxwell had played shots of 73 and 77, while Hazlewood returned with figures of 3-26 of his ten overs. Zampa had also claimed four plots of land.
Australia and England will meet in the second ODI of the three-game series on Sunday in Manchester.
(with ANI inputs)
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