Sam Billings Becom Vice-captain T20 For England vs New zealand Rugby World Cup Semi Finals

England all-rounder Sam Billings has been named Eoin Morgan's deputy for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand. With the Morgan’s regular vice-skipper Jos Buttler who rested from the tour after a gruelling summer to Billings has been appointed Eoin Morgan’s deputy.

Billings last played for England team in March this year, in a T20I against West Indies and shortly before he suffered the injury that kept him out of that the World Cup which the Three Lions won by beating the Black Caps in a dramatic final on July 14 at Lord's.

“It’s great to get some recognition and it’s a huge honour,” Billings was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. “It’s a great opportunity to be recognised as a developing leader. And there’s an element of personal development about it, too.

Kent skipper Billings is relishing the chance to step up but says his priority is to star with the bat as he looks to secure a place at next year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

Earlier in March, Billings had suffered a dislocated shoulder and ended up missing five months of cricket but now being declared as the vice-captain for England, it has boosted the player’s confidence. He realizes there’s much to learn from Morgan in the process. The fact that he’s in the side not as a keeper but as a batsman is thrilling for the player.

‘It’s a great opportunity to be recognised as a developing leader. And there’s an element of personal development about it, too.

"I captained the England Lions last winter and my county for the last two years. Eoin gave me a call a couple of weeks ago and said he'd love me to do it. I suppose he must see something in me. I'm looking forward to learning form him and implanting what I've done at Kent," he added.

New Zealand T20 squad: Tim Southee (captain), Trent Boult (games four and five), Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson (games one, two and three), Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

England T20 squad: Eoin Morgan (captain), Jonny Bairstow, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Pat Brown, Sam Curran, Tom Curran, Joe Denly, Lewis Gregory, Chris Jordan, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Adil Rashid, James Vince