Kent name Sam Billings as the new captain for 2018 season

Hard-hitting English wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings has been named as the new captain of team Kent for the 2018 domestic season. The prolific batsman has been in a fine form in the recent times. His most recent cricketing assignment has been in the Big Bash League down under, where he sports the Sydney Sixers jersey. The appointment of Billings at the helm of Kent cricket came after the former skipper Sam Northeast opted not to extend his contract.

Billings, thus, is set to take over the captaincy hat from Northeast. For the numbers, Sam Billings will be the 35th player to lead Kent in the history of the game. Meanwhile, Northeast is keen on trying out his luck with some other club in the upcoming domestic season of 2018. Northeast had assumed the captaincy back in September 2015 from Rob Key.

Reportedly, he had been told that he would lose out on his captaincy role if he does not assure of a long time alliance with Kent. This could be the probable reason why he has decided to part ways with the franchise. Talking about the new appointment, Kent’s Chairman of cricket Graham Johnson quoted that they are pleased to have Billings at the helm of their side. He noted that the camp is keen on boarding a few new faces in the upcoming season.

“With Sam Billings at the helm we have someone who shares the pride in our tradition and excitement about our ambitions. We are in discussion with a number of players who are keen to join Kent and we will be reinforcing the squad with a number of recruits before the season starts,” he quoted.

‘Incredibly Proud’

Meanwhile, Sam Billings remarked that he feels incredibly proud and honored to have been named as the captain of Kent. He mentioned that his association with Kent goes back to the times when he was an 8-year old kid. Billings is looking forward to the opportunity and expressed his excitement to work with the team management and the players.

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to have been offered the Kent captaincy. It means a lot personally as I have been involved at Kent since I was eight years of age. We have a very talented group of players and I am really looking forward to working with all the players and the coaching staff to help take the club forward. It will be challenging but I am very excited by the opportunity,” Billings quoted.

Follow-up on this cricketing story and a lot more on CricTracker.