England v West Indies: Tourists recall Sam Billings & Dawid Malan for T20 series

Last updated on 21 February 2019.From the section Cricket107

Sam Billings (left) and Dawid Malan — Billings (left) hopes to push his World Cup claims during the T20s against the West Indies

England have recalled Sam Billings and Dawid Malan for the three-match Twenty20 series against the West Indies starting on Tuesday, 5 March.

Wicketkeeper Billings and batsman Malan return to the T20 squad for the first time since last year's tour of Australia and New Zealand.

All-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler will be rested.

Opener Jason Roy will also miss the series to return home for the birth of his first child.

Roy will leave the tour after the fifth and final match of the on-going one-day international series against the Windies.

The Surrey batsman scored 123 from 85 balls in the first game to help England reach their 360-run target.

England's three T20s will take place on 5, 8 and 10 March, and Billings will be aiming to use those games, along with a stint in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings, to push his claims for a place in this summer's World Cup squad.

"There's not just 15 guys who are looking for a World Cup spot, there are probably 25-30 guys who could easily get in," he said prior to being picked in the T20 squad.

"There is healthy competition all the way down.

"It's in my hands really. I'm actually pretty calm about it, there's not much I can do apart from enjoy my cricket."

England T20 squad

Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Sam Billings (Kent), Tom Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Liam Plunkett (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), David Willey (Yorkshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

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107 comments

Comment posted by The Welsh Xavi, at 12:31 21 Feb 2019
Root not a T20 player. He doesn't have the power. His strike rate is way below where it needs to be inT20.
----
Nonsense. Averages and strike rates:

Buttler: 26.8, 138.6

Hales: 32.1, 136.2

Morgan: 28.4 131.4

Stokes 15.5, 130.3

Root: 35.8, 128.6

So he has a slightly worse strike rate but a far better average than everyone else.
Comment posted by Wolfman055, at 12:49 21 Feb 2019
At this stage of his career Joe Root doesnt need to be playing T20 cricket.
One dayers... the glue that held the innings together last night rotating the strike with Roy.
Test Matches - our best player in the longer format of the game

Anyone who watches the big bash will know how badly he struggled down under

Keep him for real cricket,not these slog fests where he could get injured.
Comment posted by Angry Beast, at 16:03 21 Feb 2019
@53

You really are ignorant of the basics of cricket eligibility.

Morgan opted for England to play Test cricket, as Ireland didn't. Just as Scots like Denness and Hamilton did, and the Dane Amjad Khan. Once an England player, he has gone on to become our greatest ODI leader. It would be immoral to change back, not stay as Captain of England.
You're just wrong.
Comment posted by TheGreatCatsby, at 13:44 21 Feb 2019
To anyone questioning Malan's call up...

He has played 5 T20Is for England and scored four 50s with a strike rate of 150+. That's a pretty good return...
Comment posted by Franklampardlegend , at 16:49 21 Feb 2019
I think you will find that Morgan came through the English system as a young player. He didn't just pitch up and start knocking it about in England for Midd'x Attended Dulwich college a breeding ground for young players and I believe his mother is English. Ireland couldn't sustain the ambition of a player as good as Morgan and their management know this so good on them for not moaning about it.
Comment posted by Wolfman055, at 13:19 21 Feb 2019
@25 - given your name no shocks for your enlightened viewpoint

Here's why (Google try it sometime!)

Eoin Morgan satisfies certain regulations which make him eligible to play for England as well

A person can play for a country if he has played four years of professional cricket in that country. Morgan was a part of Middlesex since the age of 16 which means he qualifies to play for England
Comment posted by Skipton Town, at 12:30 21 Feb 2019
Brian do you know anything about cricket?

Root averages 36 runs at a strike rate of 129 in T20i which is world class.
Comment posted by SheikhMohammed, at 13:26 21 Feb 2019
@15. 'total rubbish these 2... been found out time and again... o2 thieves.'

Malan has played 5 T20 internationals. Scored 4 50s, averages 50, strike rate of 151. Just saying.
Comment posted by James, at 12:44 21 Feb 2019
Billings? Surely Vince is the man of the moment and Bairstow/Root need to rest more than Buttler - if Buttler wants to be 1 day captain and he should he must surely play in these series even if he doesn't play all the time.

Must be something else going on here.
Comment posted by Comercial Darkness, at 13:41 21 Feb 2019
surprised they haven't had a look at Pat Brown, he was brilliant in last years blast.
Comment posted by Wag485, at 12:15 21 Feb 2019
Can't understand the point of these friendly t20s... every time the best players are rested, complete waste. better just to have t20 periods in intl cricket in lead up to world cup same way as IPL/BBL blocks
Comment posted by rytonnick, at 12:32 21 Feb 2019
Chris Woakes was short changed in the tests and now he is not in the T20 squad. What has he done wrong?
Contrast this to the Kent duo of Billings and Denby - what have this pair ever done on the international level.
Very poor selection criteria.
Comment posted by jw2001, at 13:03 21 Feb 2019
As a Kent fan - Billings is overrated and doesn't deserve a place but Denly has hardly been given a chance and why not in a game like this
Comment posted by User0048986592, at 01:45 22 Feb 2019
(All-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler will be rested)?

I agree Stokes needs a well deserved rest, but Buttler?
Why does Buttler need a rest?
Bairstow has done more keeping than him lately.

Oh hang on, Buttler needs a rest before he goes & play in the IPL.
?
Comment posted by CP88, at 13:40 21 Feb 2019
@35 Malan hasn’t played in a year in T20i, played 5 times and averages 50, not really done much wrong when he played and he can bowl the odd over. Given England don’t tend to take T20 that seriously and rest most top players then why not pick him.
Comment posted by kevin, at 16:12 21 Feb 2019
@53....Joe Root skippers the Tests like Cook did before. We have developed many however we also welcome those who wish to play for England, and not turn them away. So you condemn Morgan ?. You criticise him for wanting to play for England ? Yes, he could have stayed in Ireland, that was his decision, not England selectors. We dont deny, we welcome..its a world game
Comment posted by saddletramp , at 17:11 21 Feb 2019
50. Posted by SJF47 on
2 hours ago
Malan over Vince really?

Unbelievable,how could England pick a player with a strike rate of 150.6 and an average of 50.

Over a player with a strike rate of 117.5 and an average of 27 (and a highest score of 46) 😂😂
Comment posted by Timmanns, at 18:31 21 Feb 2019
No need for Root in T20. He's batting beautifully in ODI's. Leave it at that.
Comment posted by JDH, at 13:38 21 Feb 2019
@8. Brian - "Root not a T20 player. He doesn't have the power". Never heard such rubbish! Cricket is not all about power and that includes T20 and 50 over cricket, players like Root are accumulators, they keep the scoreboard ticking along while others go for their big shots, he can be the difference between a poor score and a very good one.
Comment posted by Kinger1968, at 13:07 22 Feb 2019
James Vince is the man in form 5th in the Big Bash averages,averaging over 40. Surely deserves a go.

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