Kent Spitfires skipper Sam Billings explains the absence of white-ball specialist Alex Blake at the start of their T20 Blast campaign; Essex Eagles next up

Skipper Sam Billings has explained why Alex Blake has been sat on the sidelines for the first five matches of Kent Spitfires’ T20 Blast campaign.

White-ball specialist Blake is yet to get the nod to play by Billings and head coach Matt Walker.

That comes despite Kent having lost four of their opening five T20 games while Blake has scored 194 runs for defending champions Hayes in the Kent League Premier Division at an average of 48.50.

On the 34-year-old, who helped Spitfires win the Royal London One-Day Cup last year, Billings said: “Blakey’s class, isn’t he?

“It’s really tough with his own situation on a white-ball contract. He’s always been an asset.

“Jack Leaning is, basically, played in that role - albeit he’s a right-hander compared to a left-hander. But statistically, Jack has been one of the best players in the last four overs, as he showed on Sunday [top scoring with a 22-ball 34 not out].

“We’d love to get Blakey in. But trying to find a way to do that, at the moment, is proving tricky, just with the balance of the side with Fred Klaassen out.

“It’s as simple as that.”

Spitfires have historically been slow starters and this year looks like being no different.

They actually won their T20 opener at home to Gloucestershire but have since suffered four straight defeats. Similarly, in County Championship Division 1, their only red-ball triumph came in the first fixture of the summer.

Billings stated: “If I had the answer, we wouldn’t be in this position!

“Without making excuses, we have a really thin squad, especially in the bowling department. There’s been various injuries.

“Ultimately, you have to look at the schedule and all the teams competing on all three fronts - Surrey being the perfect example - they've