No regrets over end of Red Ball career: England cricketer Sam Billings

England Tests of Cricketer Sam Billings says he has no regrets about ending his Red Ball career as his Kent team-mates embark on a county championship campaign on Friday.

According to French news agency AFP, the wicketkeeper-batsman has rejected the longer, first-class format of the game and signed a white-ball-only deal with Kent. This move has strengthened his reputation as a sought-after player in limited-overs tournaments globally.

Billings, 32, admits he will miss out on his three-Test series but hopes the decision will allow him to achieve a better work-life balance and increase his income.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the English domestic season at The Oval, Billings said that ‘the definition of a career is to make a living and live.’

“Sometimes players have to take decisions based on that and cricket only moves in one direction,” he said.

Billings led the Oval Invincibles to the Hundred title last year and has recently played for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash Australia and the International T20 League in Dubai Capitals.

He said, ‘I know that the competition in the franchise business is very tough. If you don’t score runs or take wickets, you decline very quickly. But I certainly won’t regret missing Kent v Somerset on Friday.’

Billings said his pursuit of Kent in 2023 and his busy schedule played a major role in his decision.

Sam Billings of Lahore Qalandars celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket match between Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars at Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on March 4, 2023.​​​​​​​

With Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes in the running for wicketkeepers for England’s Test team, they see no way back.

Billings, who will play three Tests in 2022, said that cricket is so big that it is difficult for players playing in multiple formats to keep up.

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He further said, ‘If I thought I would get a chance to play Test cricket again for England, I might have taken a different decision. But something else had to be sacrificed.

‘I played three Tests, never played as first-choice wicketkeeper, only a keeper can play, so it was constantly trying without success. That opportunity has now passed.”

I played three Tests but never as first choice. Only one wicket keeper can play. It was tiresome effort without success, now that opportunity is gone.’