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Sam Billings slams journalist for selectively quoting him on The Hundred and County cricket

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The skipper of Oval invincibles in The Hundred and Kent cricket team, Sam Billings, over the past week has been portrayed as someone who prefers the Hundred more than the existing English domestic setup and in favour of youngsters playing The Hundred at expense of their usual County Clubs. 

This came after noted cricket publication ESPNCricinfo put out an article quoting Billings along similar lines. To his and people’s surprise, Sam billings himself came out on social media to damage control and put out a whole thread in the reply to a tweet as to how his words were selectively used to fulfil an agenda. 

Replying to the tweet, Billings wrote, “I think these comments have been taken out of context Dan (journalist Dan Whitting)”. 

“Essentially I think it’s a brilliant barometer of the progress made as a county producing so many players that have been recognised as top tier in this country,” and serves as evidence as to why Kent "are competing in the later stages of the Vitality Blast.” He continued, supporting his argument as to why he said that Kent’s main aim has been to produce quality England and franchise cricketers across the world as well as The Hundred. 

“Whether people like it or not (the 100), one thing that can’t be argued is that it’s as close to international cricket as we’ve got in our domestics structure in terms of pressure, atmosphere etc. In turn, players will be better off for those experiences. The structure needs a lot of work and counties need to be supported hugely moving forward,” added Billings, whose side Invincibles is currently among the top teams in the competition and in line to make the Playoffs. 

The 30-year-old who has represented England in 25 ODIs and 32 T20Is also lashed out at critics for bashing players, “for literally being signed in a draft live on TV,” to play in a tournament that they hadn’t come up with. “What would these people do in our positions?” he asked. 

Earlier during a Hundred game, Billings had praised Kent speedster Matt Milnes, who was drafted in as a replacement player by Welsh Fire and did well to pick of Billings’ teammate Jason Roy’s wicket with his first ball in the competition. 

“What a great experience for a young bloke, getting a wicket with his first ball and riding the emotions of that game. That is what’s going to produce international cricketers. For us as a club – and as Kent fans in general – that’s what we want to do: produce England cricketers and franchise cricketers,” Billings had said.

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