Sam Billings believes one good spring is all he needs to make England’s Cricket World Cup squad.

The powerful Kent wicketkeeper-batsman missed the recent one day series in the Caribbean but was recalled for Twenty20 matches that followed, with a match of the man innings of 87 - off just 47 balls - underlining his free-hitting style with a display that turned the match.

England have no shortage of big run scorers in their set-up with Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow all looking in red-hot form at just the right time.

But Billings, 27, believes he can get in the mix - starting with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League this month.

“Hopefully I’m going to be involved in the World Cup this summer, that’s a big hope for me,” he said.

“It’s up to me to put some performances in over the next couple of months before the final World Cup squad is announced.

“Regardless of whether I’m in it’s going to be great to be involved as a fan as well by having such a great event on home soil. It will be a great summer of cricket with the Ashes following up as well.

“I’ve got the IPL coming up and that’s the closest thing to international cricket there is. If I put the performances in, then I’ll be in the 15-man squad.”

Billings was speaking at a Lord’s Taverners event to help launch the ‘Cricket 4 Good’ partnership, celebrating the scale, reach and diversity of the Lord’s Taverners and showcasing the commitment of the ICC to deliver a positive cricketing and social legacy through the Cricket World Cup.

Billings’s chances of reaching the World Cup will come at the expense of playing 50-over cricket with his county, a sacrifice he believes will benefit him in the long run.

With 15 ODIs already behind him, he is far from at the bottom of the pecking order when it comes to earning selection, as England seek to win the men's World Cup for the first time, having lost finals in 1979, 1987 and 1991. 

But with the likes of Alex Hales joining him on the sidelines, the explosive talent knows he can’t afford a single slip-up alongside the rest of the chasing pack.

“Our batting is incredibly strong. The cricket we have played over the last for years has been incredible to watch and play in,” he added.

“It’s a group mindset. There’s not only 15 guys pushing for those spots. No one is nailed on. There are probably 25 or 30 guys in English white ball cricket who could be in that squad.

“The competition is unbelievably healthy and brilliant for our game. Obviously, it boosts our chances even more – it’s a great thing and healthy competition with your mates basically."

  • The Lord’s Taverners, the UK’s leading youth cricket and disability sports charity, is an official ‘Cricket 4 Good Partner’ at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, celebrating the scale, reach and diversity of the charity’s programmes. For more information visit www.lordstaverners.org