Ashes 2021-22: England have ‘huge opportunity’ to win fifth Test, says Billings

A
frantic
day
of
action
saw
England
bowled
out
for
just
188
in
response
to
Australia’s
first
innings
of
303,
before
three
late
wickets
gave
them
a
glimmer
of
hope
as
they
look
to
restore
some
pride
after
a
disappointing
series.

Looking
ahead
to
day
three,
where
Australia
will
resume
on
37-3,
Billings
was
optimistic
about
the
chances
of
reducing
England’s
3-0
series
deficit.

“I
still
think
all
results
are
possible,”
said
Billings,
speaking
after
the
close
of
play
on
day
two.
“We
have
to
cut
out
those
bad
sessions
and
take
it
to
a
manageable
total
for
us
as
a
batting
unit.

“There
is
a
huge
opportunity
to
get
a
result
out
of
this
game.
The
first
session
is
going
to
be
huge,
and
will
set
the
tone
for
the
rest
of
the
match.
You
have
to
look
at
those
big
moments
and
really
grasp
them.

“This
evening
was
the
template
of
how
we
have
to
bowl.
The
intensity
and
consistency
was
there,
and
we
made
it
really
difficult
for
Australia.”

Billings
joined
the
England
squad
as
a
late
replacement
last
week
after
driving
over
500-miles
along
the
Australian
coast,
and
became
the
700th
man
to
represent
England
in
test
cricket
on
the
opening
day
of
the
Hobart
Test.

The
700th
player
to
represent
our
Men’s
Test
team.

Congratulations

@sambillings pic.twitter.com/KKdonFxnhL

—
England
Cricket
(@englandcricket)

January
14,
2022

The
30-year-old
put
in
a
composed
performance
behind
the
stumps
with
both
Jos
Buttler
and
Jonny
Bairstow
absent
through
injury,
before
being
called
in
to
bat
on
the
evening
of
day
two,
scoring
six
boundaries
en
route
to
a
total
of
29.

His
efforts
were
not
enough
to
stop
England
from
posting
another
disappointing
total,
but
Billings
enjoyed
the
experience
nonetheless.

“I
absolutely
loved
it”,
Billings
said.
“It’s
far
better
than
being
sat
on
the
sofa,
or
waiting
to
board
a
plane.

“I
loved
every
minute
of
it.
It
was
a
great
challenge
out
there,
against
a
brilliant
attack
that
have
been
on
fire
this
series.

“That’s
what
you
want
to
do
as
a
cricketer,
pit
yourself
against
the
best.
It
was
a
shame
I
got
out
when
I
did,
because
I
felt
in
good
rhythm,
good
flow,
and
I
really
enjoyed
it.

“The
most
disappointing
part
was
that
whenever
we
wrestled
back
any
momentum,
we
lost
wickets.

“There
is
a
lot
to
play
for,
for
everyone
in
this
squad,
we’re
playing
in
an
Ashes
Test.
The
series
hasn’t
gone
to
plan,
but
everyone
has
a
reason
to
get
up
for
it
and
be
motivated
to
put
in
a
performance.”