Kent star Sam Billings has been named in the England ODI squad for this month’s five-match series against New Zealand starting next week.

The 23-year-old from Pembury is included in a 14-man party - skippered by Eoin Morgan and coached by ex-Kent coach Paul Farbrace - for the Royal London ODI series, which starts at Edgbaston on Tuesday (June 9).

The gloveman was included in the squad for the washed-out friendly against Ireland in Dublin last month but has yet to win a 50-over cap.

He was among the second leading run-scorer in the Royal London Cup last season, in which Kent were knocked out at the semi-final stage by Warwickshire, he scored 458 runs at the highest average of any player, a huge 114.50 and a strike-rate of 154.20.

The news means Billings could miss the LV= County Championship Division 2 visit of Derbyshire to Canterbury from Sunday and the trip to Northampton on June 20, plus the home NatWest T20 Blast clashes with Hampshire on Friday, June 12, and Essex the following Thursday, and the clash with Surrey at the Oval on Friday, June 19.

England under-19s star Ryan Davies is one option at Kent's disposal after showing promise for the 2nd XI after returning from an under-19 Ashes series Down Under earlier this season.

National selector, James Whitaker, said: “This series presents an excellent opportunity to look at players we believe can play a key role for England over the next four years as we build towards the next ICC Cricket World Cup.”

There is no place for Kent spinner James Tredwell, despite first-choice Moeen Ali being rested ahead of the Ashes.

Whitaker added: “We have opted to rest Moeen from this series and he will play cricket for Worcestershire in preparation for the Ashes next month.

“A number of players involved in the recent World Cup including James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad have been left out of the squad for this series.

“It is important to point out that none of these players have been ruled out of playing a role for England in limited overs formats in the future.

“This squad allows us to look at a group of players who have performed well both at county and England Lions level in recent years.”

He added: “On behalf of the selectors I would like to wish Eoin and Paul Farbrace all the very best for what will no doubt be a highly entertaining series against a very strong New Zealand side.”

England squad: Eoin Morgan (Middlesex), Sam Billings (Kent), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Alex Hales (Nottinghamshire), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Liam Plunkett (Yorkshire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham), James Taylor (Nottinghamshire), David Willey (Northamptonshire), Mark Wood (Durham).

Royal London ODI Series

Tuesday, June 9, Edgbaston, 2pm

Friday, June 12, Kia Oval, 1pm

Sunday, June 14, Ageas Bowl, 10.30am

Wednesday, June 17, Trent Bridge, 2pm

Saturday, June 20, Emirates, Durham ICG, 10.30am