Sam Billings enjoying England Performance Programme experience

Sam Billings has described his stint as part of the England Performance Programme as an "invaluable experience".

The 23-year-old, who was recently called up as a replacement for Craig Kieswetter in England's World Cup squad, has spent the past few weeks working alongside a host of pace bowlers in Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Reflecting on his time in the camp, the Kent wicketkeeper told the ECB's official website: "It's an invaluable experience with all the advice they give you.

"It proves that the environment and these sort of schemes are a brilliant stepping stone to international cricket. You're playing with and against guys who have international experience and are trying to get to the same places you are.

"It's highly competitive which bodes well for a really good environment so it's kind of impossible not to improve with some of the international guys hanging around and seeing how they go about their business."

Billings has scored 939 runs at an average of 44.71 in 28 List A innings since debuting in 2011.