England’s Ashes thrashing hands Eoin Morgan potential major boost vs West Indies

Sam Billings is in line to play in England’s first T20I against the West Indies just six days after he was involved in the final Ashes Test

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England s humiliating Ashes series was wrapped up with a 146-run defeat in the final Test in Hobart, with Australia wining the game inside three days to go 4-0 up in the series.

Now, just six days later, England are set to begin a five-match T20I series against the West Indies, with several first-team players absent due to their involvement in the Ashes.

Sam Billings is the only member of the Ashes squad to have joined up with the T20 side, having been drafted in for the final Test after Jos Buttler suffered an injury.

As a result of Billings’ late call-up to the Test team, Yorkshire star Harry Brook was added to the T20 squad due to concerns over Billings’ availability.

However, England’s collapse in Hobart means the wicketkeeper is available for selection for the first T20.

Had the Test lasted another day, Billings would not have been able to fly to Barbados and complete his mandatory quarantine period in time.

However, he was able to arrive in Barbados on Tuesday and come out of quarantine on Friday, a day before the first game, and captain Eoin Morgan has confirmed he could play.

“If the Test match had have gone into the fourth day, he wouldn’t have had a flight for three days and he would have been ruled out [for] the weekend,” Morgan said.

Speaking before he played in the final Ashes Test, Billings said he had been given assurances by England’s managing director Ashley Giles that he would feature in as many of the T20s as possible.

With both Buttler and Jonny Bairstow absent from the squad, Billings is the first-choice option behind the stumps, with both Tom Banton and Salt capable of deputising.

“I’ve done way too much running the drinks,” Billings told reporters. “So it was having that real clarity I wasn’t going to compromise that opportunity in the West Indies. Gilo agreed to that.”