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Billings dislocates shoulder; to miss Ireland ODI and Pakistan T20I


Sam Billings has been ruled out of England's ODI against Ireland and the T20I against Pakistan early next month after dislocating his shoulder playing for Kent against Glamorgan in the Royal London One Day Cup on Thursday (April 26). Surrey's wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been called up as his replacement.
Billings will see a specialist on Friday to determine the severity of the injury but he is likely to be out of action for some time, putting his availability for the World Cup in question. He suffered the injury at the end of the first over of the game in Cardiff, diving to stop a ball in the outfield. He was treated with oxygen before being led from the playing area and was taken to hospital where the shoulder was put back into place.
On Thursday evening, Billings posted a message on Instagram, which said: "Not ideal but life goes on, far worse things happen... More scans tomorrow wait and see what they have to say... wouldn't recommend dislocating your shoulder, excruciating. This will make me better, I have no doubt."
Although it remains to be seen whether Billings will be fit in time for the World Cup, the injury has certainly robbed him of a chance to press for selection. With Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler rested for the two games against Ireland and Pakistan, Billings was set to play in both, an opportunity to put his name forward to be the spare batsman in England's final World Cup squad. Billings' Kent teammate, Joe Denly, was named in the provisional squad in that role but his place is not yet secure.
It is also a cruel blow for the Kent, who will now be without their captain for a further period after Billings missed the opening month of the season because of his spell with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. The 27 year-old is a vastly important player for Kent and they could do with his experience and quality at present. Without him, they have lost four of their first five games in the One Day Cup - the Glamorgan game yesterday was washed out - and have won one and lost one of their opening two Championship matches.
The injury to Billings does, however, present an opportunity for Foakes, who scored 71 for Surrey in their defeat against Middlesex at the Oval yesterday. Foakes made his Test debut during the winter against Sri Lanka, scoring a memorable hundred in Galle, before being dropped for the final Test of the Caribbean tour but is yet to make his bow for England in white-ball cricket.
England have other injury concerns, too. Captain Eoin Morgan sat out Middlesex's match against Surrey with a shin issue while Jason Roy also missed that game because of a back spasm he suffered against Essex. Tom Curran was another absentee from the London derby with a calf injury. Denly did not play for Kent against Glamorgan, also because of a back issue, and Alex Hales has been given indefinite leave by Nottinghamshire for personal reasons.
The England squad will convene in Cardiff this weekend for a pre-season training camp. They then head to Ireland next Wednesday for the one-off ODI in Malahide on Friday (May 3).

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