Sam Billings steps down as Kent skipper

Sam Billings has stepped down as Kent County Cricket Club's captain after serving the team for almost six years. The English cricketer, who is under contract with Kent until the end of 2025, has already given up the captaincy and will now do the same with the T20 team as well.

Billings led Kent to progress from Division Two in his first season as captain after succeeding Sam Northeast in 2018. He led the team during their victory in the 2021 Vitality Blast, even though the team failed to qualify from the group stage in the previous two T20 seasons.

Following his decision to step down from the leadership position, Billings has expressed his gratitude towards the team management.

"It has been an incredible honour to captain this great club. To follow in the footsteps of so many wonderful captains over the years has been truly special. Hopefully I've left the club in a better place and taken the cap forward.

"Special thanks must go to Paul Downton for the unwavering support and advice he has offered throughout. Alongside Paul and Matt Walker we set out with three clear aims that we wanted to try and achieve: to produce England players, win trophies and play Division One cricket. The environment that has been created behind the scenes has achieved all three aims consistently, which I'm incredibly proud of. It has been an amazing project to be a part of," Billings said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"Thank you to all the members, staff and most importantly the players for all of the support throughout. I'll see you all back at the Spitfire Ground in 2024," he added.

Billings, who has represented England in three Tests and 65 white-ball games, decided to not participate in the 2023 Indian Premier League to focus on Kent's next County Championship season. However, the 32-year-old opted himself out of the lineup before deciding to step down from the captaincy role.