Billings in England T20 squad and joins DBD in Lions ODI squad

Kent’s Sam Billings is in England’s 15-man squad to play two T20Is against South Africa in February as the race for a place at the ICC World T20 in March hots up.

Billings joins Kent team-mate Daniel Bell-Drummond in the England Lions squad for a five-match 50-over series against Pakistan A in January 2016.

The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman, who is set to play for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League in February, will travel to Asia in the New Year and could spend almost three months there if selected for the England T20 squad.

All-rounder Ben Stokes and pace bowler Steven Finn are added to the squad that won the recent ODI or T20 series against Pakistan last month.

National selector James Whitaker said: “The limited overs cricket played by this group of players in the last six months has been very encouraging but we are all aware that there is still plenty of work to do.

“This ODI series against South Africa will be another important opportunity for these players to keep learning and developing their skills.

“With an ICC World T20 later this winter the T20 matches will be a crucial part of our preparations. On behalf of the selectors I would like to wish Eoin and Trevor all the very best.”

James Vince will captain the Lions squad, after winning a T20 series against Pakistan A earlier this month and there are three new faces, all fast bowlers.

Somerset’s Craig Overton joins his twin brother Jamie after being ruled out of the T20 series with an elbow injury, there is a Lions recall for Toby Roland-Jones of Middlesex, and Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett also returns to the squad.

“There has been a white-ball focus for the Lions this winter and after a successful T20 series against Pakistan A, they now have the opportunity to gain further valuable 50-over experience,” added Whitaker.

England ODI squad (30 January-14 February)

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), Reece Topley (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

England T20 squad (17-21 February)

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), Reece Topley (Hampshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), James Vince (Hampshire).

England Lions ODI squad (January)

James Vince (Hampshire, capt), Jake Ball (Nottinghamshire), Daniel Bell-Drummond (Kent), Sam Billings (Kent), Joe Clarke (Worcestershire), Tom Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Craig Overton (Somerset), Jamie Overton (Somerset), Stephen Parry (Lancashire), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex), Tom Westley (Essex), Ross Whiteley (Worcestershire)

England ODI/T20 Fixtures

30 Jan – One Day Tour Match, Kimberley

03 Feb – 1^st Momentum ODI, Bloemfontein

06 Feb – 2^nd Momentum ODI, Port Elizabeth

09 Feb – 3^rd Momentum ODI, Centurion

12 Feb – 4^thMomentum ODI, Johannesburg

14 Feb – 5^th Momentum ODI, Cape Town

17 Feb – T20 Tour Match, Paarl

19 Feb – 1^st KFC T20 International, Cape Town

21 Feb – 2^nd KFC T20 International, Johannesburg

England Lions matches: Warm up games January 14 & 16, 50-over matches v Pakistan A on January 20, 22, 25, 28, 30.

See Daniel Bell-Drummond and Sam Billings in action for Kent next summer

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