Sam Billings reckons the incoming private investment into The Hundred competition will be “life-changing” for domestic cricket in England.
Kent Spitfires’ T20 Blast captain Billings has led Oval Invincibles to two successive titles in the competition and is bidding to make it a hat-trick this summer.
They began their defence with a six-wicket win against London Spirit in the final season of The Hundred competition before the cash injection lands.
Investors will take control of the eight Franchises from October 1, with Billings’ Invincibles one of just two to not have sales agreed – although Reliance Industries Limited, owned by the Indian multi-billionaire Ambani family, have agreed to purchase a 49 percent stake.
Surrey will retain ownership of the other 51 percent and Billings hopes all 18 first-class counties – even those like his own, Kent, who don’t have a stake in the competition – will benefit, along with the game as a whole.
“The investment is incredible in terms of what it can do for the domestic and grassroots game in this country,” said Billings, who has played 68 times for England across all three international formats.
“The impact that could potentially have is undeniable, as long as the money is used wisely.
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“The Hundred has got better year on year. In terms of the following, people are starting to get a relationship and build a genuine support for each Franchise.
“It has gone from strength-to-strength and external investors have seen the same, shown by the money they have put up.
“The concept around this competition has been to impact the game in this country positively.
“I have been at Kent since the age of eight and was club captain for seven years. A club like Kent needs this breath of fresh air and breath of life.
“This money, if it does filter down correctly, can be life-changing.
“There are so many unknowns but, by the sounds of it, it could be really positive.”
It’s not just off the field Billings believes The Hundred is growing.
The 34-year-old is no stranger to Franchise competitions and reckons England’s short-format showpiece outranks its rivals everywhere – apart from India.
“The IPL has to be number one, of course, purely because of the density of players and overseas players,” said Billings, who plays for Oval Invincibles alongside Kent team-mate Tawanda Muyeye. “But The Hundred is right behind it.
“There is no better competition in terms of that second level. We’re very fortunate in this country that our domestic players are up there with the best in the world.
“That’s how you gauge a competition, the domestic players. You know you are going to get top quality from overseas players, wherever you go around the world.
“But our domestic players combined with that, condensed into eight teams, makes for a really high standard. It’s a really exciting competition going from strength-to-strength.”
Billings was speaking at a KP Snacks event in Charlton Park, helping to celebrate their achievement of installing 100 all-weather, grassroots community cricket pitches across England and Wales as part of their “Everyone In” campaign.
He joined Jermain Defoe, Fleur East and several players from London Spirit and Oval Invincibles for a cricket party, with local schoolchildren and hopes improved access to facilities can help the next generation fall in love with the game.
“It’s incredibly important,” he said. “As a child, I was very lucky to have access through my club and school to play cricket.
“Other children and other communities aren’t as lucky.
“To be able to put cricket pitches in local communities like this is game-changing.
“We’re competing with football and lots of other sports for attention and access to getting more kids into the game.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to travel the world playing this great game and it’s great to see the next generation enjoying it.”
KP Snacks, the official team partner of The Hundred, are celebrating the installation of 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales as part of their “Everyone In” campaign.
Visit www.everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder for more information or to search for your nearest pitch.
