Sam Billings: Kent T20 captain signs white-ball only contract until 2025
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Sam Billings (right) has played in the Big Bash and IPL, while also captaining the Oval Invincibles in the Hundred
England international Sam Billings has signed a new white-ball only contract at Kent until the end of 2025.
Billings, 32, captains the Kent T20 side and made his debut for the Canterbury-based county in 2011.
The right-hander has played 68 times for England in all formats, following his international debut in 2015.
The new deal, Kent said in a statement, allows Billings to "pursue increasing opportunities in limited-overs cricket overseas during the calendar year".
Billings, who played three Tests for England in 2022, last played first-class cricket in May when he recorded a pair while captaining Kent in the County Championship defeat at Surrey.
"I'm very grateful for the club's openness and understanding during discussions around my future," Billings said.
"In an ever-changing landscape of our sport, I've tried juggling all formats for some time and have found it very challenging personally on and off the field.
"With the addition of a child on the way it feels like the right time to try and find more balance so I can perform at my best whenever I pull on the Kent shirt."
Billings lifted the T20 Blast trophy as captain in 2021 and also led Kent to the final of the One-Day Cup in 2018, but stepped down as the club's red-ball skipper in October.
He is playing for Brisbane Heat in Australia's T20 competition, the Big Bash League, and has also been a regular overseas player in the Indian Premier League, while also playing in the Hundred for the Oval Invincibles.
"This new agreement reflects a mutual commitment from both Kent and Sam to navigate a fast-changing cricketing world," said Kent's director of cricket Simon Cook.
"He is a well-travelled and well-respected player that has spent a lot of time overseas, winning the biggest prizes in T20 cricket, and building relationships with players who have in-turn become Kent Spitfires off the back of his off-field work.
"Sam is an outstanding white-ball cricketer and we're extremely pleased that he will be a Spitfire for at least another two seasons."