Kent wicketkeeper Sam Billings is eyeing up a place in the starting eleven in the years to come having broken into the side this season.

The 20 year old keeper from Pembury is currently studying at Loughborough University, but has been playing for Kent throughout the summer, predominantly as a batsman with Geraint Jones keeping his place behind the stumps.

Billings has shown all the potential to become Jones’ successor in the long run with efficient glove-work, whilst showing the intent during his batting to be in a similar mould to the current Kent number one keeper and it’s Jones that Billings believes has been a major influence:

“It’s been a great season for me personally. Being at university I didn’t think I’d get that many appearances, but with a small squad you have to welcome any kind of opportunity.”

“It’s been brilliant working with Geraint this summer. We all saw what he did in the 2005 Ashes, so to have a guy who has been at the top and to look up to, it’s great for me and I can learn a lot off him.”

However, Billings admitted despite looking up to Jones, he will ultimately be looking to take his place in the side:

“That’s got to be my aim and for anyone in my position. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t, but I’ve got to keep working hard and putting the performances in for the second team and take whatever opportunities I get.”

With India having recently visited Kent for a tour match, Billings told KSN how it was their star batsman that had been a role model as he grew up:

“I’ve looked up to Tendulkar since I was very little and he is like a god in my eyes. India have unbelievable players and although they didn’t perform in the Test series, in One Day cricket they are a formidable force so it’s great to see them playing here at Canterbury.”

With a whole raft of youngsters breaking into the Kent first eleven is the past few seasons, Billings believes the future of the county look bright with homegrown talent:

“We’ve played with each other since we were about ten or eleven and they are a really talented bunch. It’s been good to see Daniel Bell-Drummond on TV with the England Under 19’s, with Adam Ball captaining the side.”

“We have also got Alex Blake and Sam Northeast who are only 21 or 22, so the future does look bright for Kent Cricket.”

Indeed the future does look bright for Kent. Should they be able to keep hold of their rising stars, Billings could be playing in a youthful side in years to come alongside Bell-Drummond, Joe Denly, Sam Northeast, Alex Blake, Adam Ball, Matt Coles and Adam Riley, all products of the Kent Academy.

Pictures supplied by Sarah Ansell. To see more of Sarah’s pictures visit www.sarahcanterbury.com