T20 superstar Sam Billings believes England’s ridiculous 506-run day of cricket is a reflection of England’s new captain and coach combination as he eyes a return to the Test arena for next year’s Ashes series.
Four top order batsmen scored centuries, with Zak Crawley (122) belting the fast ever by an English opener to kick off proceedings in the first Test at Rawalpindi last week.
Brendon McCullum’s side scored at a ridiculous 6.75 runs per over in that singular day and were bowled out for 657 before Pakistan responded with three centuries of their own.
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Billings, who has three Test caps to date, explained that while England’s coach isn’t a fan of the phrase ‘Bazball’ — McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes have completely “changed the mindset” of England’s squad.
“He (McCullum) hates that term,” Billings told foxsports.com.au.
“It is amazing, I think it’s a lesson for everyone really, it is change of mindset, you have the same players, literally have the same players.
“You change the mindset, and obviously the coach and captain, but you change the mindset of the group and you also get everyone moving in the same direction collectively, it shows how powerful it can be.
“Incredibly exciting, the test is always going to be away from home in different conditions and look, Rawalpindi was a very flat pitch, but what an advert for Test cricket.
“Ultimately it is about entertainment, it is about winning games of cricket but also doing it in a way that comes naturally, firstly to the players, but also in a way that brings people back.”
Billings also explained how the shorter formats of the game have developed the modern day batsmen into excitement machines.
The 31-year-old has played in T20 tournaments across the globe, and those skills utilised in the white ball formats are now translating to the Test arena more than ever.
“It’s not rash, it is controlled aggression, which Baz McCullum and Ben Stokes, they are the perfect examples of that,” Billings said.
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“I think it is a real blend of confidence and just that mindset moving forward, keep moving the game forward, keep taking the positive option.
“It fits into modern day cricket, let’s be honest the last 10 or 15 years, that is the way cricket has gone, it’s not asking people to do anything they aren’t capable of doing.”
Billings made his Test debut during England’s disastrous 4-0 Ashes series loss, being drafted in as a replacement for the injured pairing of Jonny Bairstow and Jos Butler.
The wicketkeeper also featured as a substitute against New Zealand in Leeds before being selected in the fifth Test against India in July, scoring 36 in the first innings.
Hailing from Kent, Billings is forgoing the lucrative payday provided by the IPL and will instead focus on his red ball cricket hoping to secure a return to the Test arena.
In the 2022 edition of the IPL, Billings was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders for 2 crore — approximately $360,000 aud.
“English cricket is in a really good place at the moment in terms of the depth of talent, I have obviously played three Tests now and been around that group, what an environment to be a part of,” Billings said.
“That’s why I am not going back to the IPL next year, I want to give myself the best chance of getting back into that side before a home Ashes series.”
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