Sydney Thunder superstar Sam Billings has likened England's spectacular Ashes failure to its infamous 2015 World Cup loss to Bangladesh, which preceded an ascent to the top of the world's ODI rankings.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Scott Boland's heroics on Tuesday in front of a delirious MCG crowd reduced England to one of its lowest Ashes ebbs, as Australia retained the urn having needed less than 12 full days of cricket across three Tests.
For Billings, who starred with a stylish 67 at Manuka Oval in the Thunder's win over Perth just hours after England's diabolical collapse, there were shades of the country's shock loss to lowly Bangladesh which meant they failed to reach the World Cup knockout stages.
Four years later, England's reversal was complete when they claimed a maiden World Cup title after tying with New Zealand in the final.
"We lost [in] the World Cup to Bangladesh in 2015, I wasn't involved, then went on a resurgence in white ball cricket," Billings said.
"That was probably the lowest ebb and then it led a resurgence and we're the best white ball team in the world.
"Things shift around and in Test cricket, certainly England can turn around as well.
"You're feeling for the lads, everything goes in waves, and we'll be back on top some time. It's just staying, having faith in that, work hard and things will turn around.
"It's a brutal game cricket. We've seen it in various forms whether it's T20, ODI cricket or Test cricket. You go in waves, you have good and bad days, you have good and bad periods of your career and unfortunately we've just been dominated in the Ashes."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT
Billings has never played a Test for his country, but was a part of the English squad earlier this summer before being released to assume his Big Bash duties for the Thunder. He has represented the Three Lions in 33 T20s, and 25 ODIs.
His imperious knock in Canberra on Tuesday came from just 35 balls, and brought an end to the Scorchers' unbeaten run this summer.
It came in front of 9740 fans who packed out Manuka Oval, hosting its second and final Big Bash fixture of the summer.
Desperate English selectors could do much worse than handing the classy 30-year-old a Test debut as the country looks to salvage some pride in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
"If the call was ever to come, of course you can't turn down that opportunity and I'm very confident in my own game," Billings said.
"I've had a really good couple of years in first-class cricket, I enjoy my first-class cricket.
"I'm 30 years old now, I'm not a young pup, you're more at ease with your game.
"Who knows, I've just got to keep working hard. I was in the Test squad a couple of times this summer - I'd love to."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
