New Delhi: After Sam Billings’ exploits against Ireland in the first ODI, former England spinner is quite surprised how the opener is not being given regular game time in the ongoing series against Ireland. He expects Billings to be an automatic selection in the top six.
“Whenever Billings is playing in on the crease in an ODI he looks very comfortable. It surprises me that why isn’t he in the line-up,” Panesar said in his show ‘Cricket Talks with Monty Panesar’. “He should be an automatic selection in the top six for the team. Now, with these performances, I would expect him to be there for sure,” he added.
Panesar also believes vice-captain Moeen Ali should lead England in the third ODI with the series. “I would like to see vice-captain Moeen Ali captain the third ODI. I think he is naturally more of a leader than a vice-captain. Even Eoin Morgan can be rested or try a change in captaincy and see what Moeen Ali’s captaincy is like,” the left-arm spinner said.
The 38-year-old said Ireland will have a lot of learning to take from this series, especially when playing against Test-playing nations. “Ireland will learn a lot about their cricket, where it stands at the moment and where it needs to go. One area of concern is that they keep getting out to left-arm seam bowling of David Willey and Reece Topley,” he said.
“So, they have not really worked out a game-plan. Irish cricket will always come up with some sort of struggles against the bigger nations. So, they will have to work out a game plan for that and also how quick learners are they.” Till now the 29-year-old Billings has played 16 ODIs and 26 T20Is since making his debut in 2015.
