Sam Billings: Vitality Blast title defense is ‘very realistic’, says Kent captain ahead of 2022 season | Cricket News Sky News

Sam Billings accepts Kent will have a target on his back in this year’s Vitality Blast, but insists defending his crown is a « very realistic » ambition.

No team has ever retained the title in the history of the competition, which enters its 20th season as Kent kicks off against Somerset on Wednesday night – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6.30pm – in a repeat of the 2021 final.

Kent v Somerset

May 25, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

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Jordan Cox had a breakout display in last year’s final, the 21-year-old crushing an unbeaten 58 on 28 balls and producing a jaw-dropping piece of ground to set up a remarkable stint takeover with Matt Milnes.

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Watch how Jordan Cox’s remarkable frontier line-up led to Lewis Gregory getting caught in last year’s Vitality Blast Final

Kent can also count on the experience of former England international Joe Denly and Darren Stevens, 46, as well as Billings himself, who returns to lead the team after his IPL stint with the Kolkata Knights. Riders.

When asked if his team could become the first to successfully defend their title, Billings replied: “There’s motivation, of course, but it’s also very realistic.

“Apart from that 46-year-old evergreen player that we have, we have a fairly young squad that should in theory get stronger and stronger, so we’re really looking forward to that.

“We know how people are going to approach us and maybe play a little differently against us. We can prepare for it and hopefully win the title again.”

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Watch the best of the action from the 2021 Vitality Blast final as Kent got the better of Somerset

The national T20 competition in England was first launched in 2003, with Billings then among the young and impressionable population that the ECB was trying to exploit.

Billings added: “We were the pioneers and trailblazers of T20 cricket in this country and the England team showed that we still do that on an international basis.

« I remember growing up as a Kent fan – in 2008 we lost in the final, but we won in 2007 – those are fond memories for me.

“It’s always been one of those things where, ‘I want to be there and win stuff for Kent when I grow up.

“It means an awful lot of things.”

Watch Sam Billings in action as his Kent side begin their Vitality Blast title defense against Somerset, in a repeat of last year’s final – live on Sky Sports Cricket from 6.30pm on Wednesday