Kent to have Sam Billings available from start of 2023 season after keeper opts out of IPL

Billings has told Kolkata Knight Riders he wants to focus on longer-format cricket in the County Championship, and make his case for the England Test gloves

Sam Billings will be available for Kent throughout the early weeks of the county season in 2023 after opting out of the Indian Premier League.

Billings has told Kolkata Knight Riders he wants to focus on longer-format cricket in the County Championship, as he looks to make his case for the England Test gloves.

The 31-year-old fetched around £250,000 in the IPL mega auction ahead of the 2022 season, and played eight times for KKR earlier this year.

^{Sam Billings will not be available for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL [screengrab/IPL]}

In a post on social media, he wrote: "Have taken the tough decision that I won't be taking part in the next IPL."

"Looking to focus on longer format cricket at the start of the English summer with [Kent]."

Billings has been frequently absent from the first four to six weeks of the county season, given his regular involvement in the IPL - he was on the books of Chennai Super Kings prior to being picked up by KKR.

^{Billings will play County Championship cricket for Kent in April and May [Getty Images]}

His availability will be a huge boost to Kent, who will once again compete in Division One of the Championship in 2023, having finished fifth this year.

KKR, meanwhile, had already acted to add another wicketkeeping option to their roster, with the acquistion of Afghanistan international Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

Gurbaz was traded from IPL champions Gujarat Titans, where he remained on the bench throughout the 2022 campaign. Both he and New Zealand seamer Lockie Ferguson have moved to the Knight Riders as part of an all-cash trade. 

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