SAM Billings will keep trying to emulate Jos Buttler — when he next has an opportunity to do so for England.

Billings filled in for Lancashire star Buttler in front of and behind the stumps in Monday’s 79-run Twenty20 warm-up victory over the United Arab Emirates at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

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It was others who underpinned England’s success, Jason Roy top-scoring with 59 in a total of 174-6 and Moeen Ali then grabbing 4-11 as the hosts fell well short.

Billings had to settle for just a dozen runs at number five, in his first innings since the end of last summer, as a clutch of England’s Twenty20 recruits showed signs of rustiness in their first match action of the tour.

He was not required during England’s 3-1 one-day international series win over Pakistan, a spectator in the dressing room during Buttler’s record-breaking 46-ball century which powered the tourists to success in Dubai last week.

“The bloke’s a freak, to put it bluntly,” Billings said of his fellow wicketkeeper.

“It was a phenomenal innings, and a pleasure to watch.”

Billings nonetheless believes he, and others in the squad, have the ability to turn matches England’s way too in white-ball cricket.

“We’re all trying to emulate something like that on a personal level,” he said.

“The pleasing thing is that I think we have numerous individuals who can make performances like that happen.

“You aspire to do things like that. You’ve done it at county level, so it’s about emulating it at international level. If I get an opportunity, I’ll give it 100 per cent and hope it will come off.”

Buttler is sure to return for three Twenty20s against Pakistan over the next week, in Dubai and Sharjah, after only four full international matches in the shortest format for England since the last global tournament in Bangladesh in March 2014.

The next will be in the same month next year, in India, and Billings is increasingly optimistic.

“As a squad in one-day cricket, I think we’ve moved forward really well,” said the Kent wicketkeeper.

“We feel this whole squad can really move up another level, so it’s about continuing that momentum throughout this winter into the World Cup.

“It’s an important week (coming up), and we’ll be giving it a right good go.

“Tours like this are exceptional to improve our skills.”