England opener Sam Billings relishing return to Sydney as Sixers aim to go one step further
THE pain of losing the BBL grand final to the Scorchers last season is still fresh for the Sydney Sixers. They’ll use that emotion to fuel their charge for glory in BBL07.
Big Bash
Don't miss out on the headlines from Big Bash. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SYDNEY, finally there’s a Pommy cricketer we can actually cheer this summer.
As Joe Root and his men try to avoid an Ashes whitewash, the posh-speaking, likeable Sam Billings can expect plenty of love when pulling on the magenta for the Sydney Sixers again this summer.
Billings and his Englishman mate Jason Roy gave the competition glamour boys plenty of bang for their buck last season, and will look to cash in on the runs — and local support — before switching to the dark side for the one-day series against Australia next month.
Sydney is one city Billings loves dearly after spending time playing grade cricket with Penrith four years ago, and whose godfather lives in beautiful Rose Bay, deep in Sixers’ heartland.
“Last year Jase and I were really supported, and it helps when the team is winning and doing well,’’ Billings said.
“Obviously it’s slightly different this year being an Ashes year.
“There’s always plenty of chat out on the field. Even when playing grade cricket the other day there was a bit of chat, and I kept getting called ‘champ’, which is a word you guys like to use.
“Hopefully I can hit the ground running and contribute straight away — hopefully can make some match-winning contributions.
“I love Sydney, it’s my favourite city in the world apart from London, and closely followed by Cape Town.’’
After attending the weddings of Roy, much-hyped England all-rounder Ben Stokes and new Sydney Thunder recruit Jos Buttler back home, Billings, 26, made a point of getting himself to Australia to start training.
The middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper has spent the past three weeks in Penrith - officially Thunder territory -working with Glenn McGrath’s former conditioner Kevin Chevell, and even sneaking in a few grade games for the local club.
“I’m living with Kev and basically doing what Glenn McGrath did all those years ago,’’ Billings said.
“If it was good enough for Glenn, it’s good enough for me.
“I’ve been training up to three times day.
“The main thing I took out of last year’s BBL was the pitches. When you’re playing on slow pitches on the subcontinent, and in England from time to time, you need to improvise quite a lot.
“But the wickets here are genuinely true, there’s a bit more bounce, and it’s about staying still as long as possible and timing the ball. You don’t need to get too funky with it, and last year I maybe tried that too much, even though I was still happy with the way I went.
“It’s about trying to turn your thirties and forties into really big contributions.
“As a side, barring a few injuries, the Sixers are as good a side as anyone, and hopefully we can go one better than last year.’’
The Sixers won a thrilling semi-final against the Brisbane Heat in a super over, only to be out of gas by the time they were greeted by Mitchell Johnson and the Perth Scorchers in the wild west.
While they’ve lost their experienced gloveman Brad Haddin, the Sixers will have keeper Peter Nevill keep behind the sticks, and Sean Abbott try to become the leading wicket-taker for a second straight summer.
Billings averaged an impressive 31.7 batting in the middle order, while Roy will again set the tone with fellow opener Daniel Hughes.
Sydney, Poms in pink rule.