Kent head coach Matt Walker on captain Sam Billings' decision not to take part in this year's Indian Premier League

Skipper Sam Billings’ decision not to take part in this year’s Indian Premier League has been hailed as a big boost for Kent by head coach Matt Walker.

Billings has been regularly involved in franchises around the globe which have meant he has missed large chunks of recent Kent campaigns.

But the 31-year-old is looking to focus on longer-format cricket this summer, as he tries to force himself into England contention, and will be available for Kent at the start of the campaign.

Walker said: “It’s an enormous boost, really.

"It’ll be really good for him to be here for the start of the season.

“He made that decision and it was purely his own decision to stay and take himself out of the IPL. I think he wants to be here for the start and hit the ground running at the start of our domestic County Championship campaign.

“It gives more solidarity to the group that he’s here as the captain. He will be able to be around in pre-season and influence in the way that he does so well when he’s around.

“He’s going to do it from the start of the season, which gives everyone a bit more clarity and solidarity around the start of the year.

“I think it’s really good. He won’t be dipping in a few weeks into the season.

“He can set his stall out to start the season as captain and as a player, and have a good build-up to the start of the year, which he hasn’t really had for a long time.

“He has come back in and has to try to hit the ground running, having played a lot of white-ball cricket. Now, he’s got a chance to get himself really ready for the start of the year and I think that’s going to help him.

“It’ll be good for him because I think he just wants to get on a bit of a roll, really, and play some consistent cricket.”

Billings has this