BBL 2021-22: Sydney Thunder re-sign Sam Billings for the upcoming season
England batter Sam Billings will yet again turn out for Sydney Thunder in the 11th edition of Big Bash League (BBL). The franchise managed to re-sign their star player for the season 2021-22 on Tuesday (7 September). Billings had a fruitful season last year with the Thunder as he scored 260 runs in just 10 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 142.
He was potent at the top order and often provided the team with fiery starts upfront. Billings was also well supported by his fellow Englishman Alex Hales at the top, who ended up scoring 510 runs and was also the leading run-scorer in BBL 10. Thunder could not make it to the playoffs last time but showed remarkable signs of improvement in each game as the tournament progressed.
Thunder finished third on the points table, but Billings is optimistic of the team going all the way in the upcoming 11th season of BBL. “In my first experiences with Sydney Thunder last season there were obviously positive signs but, we didn’t finish where we wanted to, or could finish,” Billings said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“There is no reason we can’t take another step forward and go close to the title.” Billings was also effusive in praise of Hales and said he is an impact player. “Hales is obviously a high-quality player and we have all seen what he can do. Both Halsey and I have played a lot under Trevor (Bayliss) and it’s really exciting, not only for younger players but for the older players, to be influenced by TB.”
Sam Billings called into the England Test side against India, released later
Billings, who is yet to make his Test debut, was called into the Test side for the team’s ongoing Test series against India. With wicketkeeper-batters Jos Buttler and Ben Foakes unavailable for the fourth Test, Billings was included as a cover to Jonny Bairstow.
With Buttler all set to return for the fifth and final Test in Manchester, Billings has been released from the squad.
Sydney Thunder squad: Usman Khawaja (c), Sam Billings, Jonathan Cook, Ben Cutting, Ollie Davies, Brendan Doggett, Matthew Gilkes, Chris Green, Alex Hales, Baxter Holt, Nathan McAndrew, Alex Ross, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, Chris Tremain
