Wicketkeeper Sam Billings has told KSN it will be a childhood dream realised if he makes his England debut on Friday.

The 23 year old from Pembury is part of the England squad to take on Ireland in the One Day International in Dublin and would be making his full international debut having played for the England Lions in the winter.

Having been touted as being the next big thing for England over the past twelve months, Billings could be on the verge of pulling on the Three Lions shirt and it’s a prospect he is looking forward to:

“It’s a childhood dream. You grow up, you get up every day and that’s what you’re working towards, ultimately. In that respect, just fingers crossed I play and hopefully I can make a contribution to a winning side. That would be ideal. I’ve obviously played a lot with a few of the lads – they’re a great bunch of lads, highly talented – so it’s about putting it out there and showing everyone what we can do.”

Billings has one simple aim should he play though, telling Kent Sports News:

“Score some runs! Obviously the squad meet up tonight (Wednesday) and we’ll probably know a bit more after today. I think everyone knows what they need to do – it’s score runs, take wickets, take catches – keep it pretty simple, see the ball, hit the ball, especially in the white ball format.”

“Hopefully, if I play, it’s one of those where I just try to emulate what I did last year for Kent. It’s just another 50-over game of cricket, exactly the same. That’s what I’m trying to do – just stick to my method and stick to the way I play and hopefully contribute.”

Billings has struggled for runs this season, but believes should he play for England, it will be a chance to get into form in a different format of the game:

“Early season can go that way. The ball nibbles around. I got run out at Lancashire – it’s one of those things. I’m not too fussed. I’m sticking to my prep, preparing well, putting in the hard yards and it’s one of those – you don’t need to tell me that I need a score – you put the hard work in and you get what you get out of it.”

“You get what you put in, to be honest. I’ve got no qualms with that, and it will be a great opportunity. At the end of the day, it’s a different format, different game, and I’ll stick to my way.”

As for how he will feel should he be selected and walks out into the middle for the first time as an England player:

“I’ll tell you afterwards! At the end of the day, it’s a huge honour, even to be mentioned in the squad and be in the mix for it. Ultimately, that counts for nothing – I’m there to score runs, take wickets, take catches, whatever.”

“In terms of that respect, you’ve just got to blank that all out, blank the emotion out, get in there and get the job done. Then you can think about it once all the blur has been and gone afterwards! It’s going to be a hugely proud moment if it happens.”

Billings will be part of an inexperienced squad led by James Taylor with the majority of the squad having played in the Test series in West Indies rested for the game.

With a younger side set to take to the field against Ireland, it represents an opportunity for some new faces to impress and Billings will be straight back on a plane to Kent after the match, but that’s something the wicketkeeper batsman is prepared to do:

“It’s a hectic schedule. I think that’s highlighted in the Test Match series with the guys not being available for this Ireland game. It is a hectic schedule, and that’s obviously what we’ve got to deal with. I think it is a massive skill to be able to switch formats, and the different styles of play, and it’s something you have to learn from every experience. Hopefully I’ll score some runs on Friday and score some runs next week, as well! That’s all I’m focussing on to be honest.”

On Wednesday Billings strode to the middle at Canterbury with Kent well placed on 250/5 needing just another 65 runs to beat Leicestershire and it looked like the home side were going to have a real chance of winning the game.

However, the loss of Darren Stevens to a dubious decision in the following over changed the prospect, but Billings believes it was a great game to be involved in, even if it did end up being a draw:

“It was a good advert for four-day cricket, to be honest. We probably looked outsiders at the beginning of the day, and then DBD batted sensationally well and obviously Sam Northeast and other guys were battling hard as well – Nashy, and Stevo with a little cameo as well. Without the rain, you never know – it could’ve gone either way. Like I said, it’s gone both ways this week.”

“There’s no doubt that there’s enough talent in this dressing room to chase down a total like that, on that pitch, in these conditions. We were confident that we had enough in the dressing room, but obviously we haven’t been playing our best cricket of late.”

“Obviously it just took someone to play an outstanding knock and get a hundred and then people bat around them, and you’re always going to be in with a shout, so at the end of the day you bat, set a platform, and you earn the right to “have a bit of a whoopsy” at the end and see if you can get over the line, but not to be.”

“I think it’s one of those. Obviously you don’t want to take things for granted – you bat for an hour, you see for the last 15 overs with a howling gale like that… 15 overs, you’re looking at just over 100, potentially. You back yourself to chase that down with our batting line up, but earning the right and having the platform to play like that was the key, and we had to set that up.”

“We all know what Stevo is capable of, to be honest. I just had a few flashbacks of Lancashire when he got the 205. Like I said, we all know he can do it and it’s just one of those where if me and him had maybe stayed in for another five overs, you never know – we could’ve got close to that, definitely.”

There was a fair bit of tension during the game with captain Rob Key to be reported by the match umpires, whilst Leicestershire captain Mark Cosgrove was involved in heated debates with some of the Kent players, but Billings told KSN that was all forgotten as soon as the match ended:

“At the end of the day, that’s part and parcel of cricket. They’ve got two international, Australian cricketers who play their game hard but fair. That’s how you’ve got to play cricket at the end of the day – you’re there to win, you’re not there to be mates with them.”

“Obviously it’s nothing personal, and then you can have a beer and shake hands at the end of the game. Play hard but fair – it’s just part of the game and I think we’ll see a lot more between Aussies and Englishmen this summer!”

Maybe, just maybe, Billings will be facing some Australians himself this summer if all goes to plan…