Tom Banton is raring to develop England’s wicketkeeper-batter expertise pool even additional as he needs to place extra emphasis on his work behind the stumps and emulate Jos Buttler within the white-ball set-up.
With Sam Billings omitted after a busy previous couple of weeks that noticed him swap continents and codecs, Banton took the gloves for the primary time for England in a 20-run defeat to the West Indies within the third Twenty20
He went largely unnoticed because the Windies piled up 224 for 5 for his or her highest T20 rating towards England, however his greatest contribution got here when thumping six sixes in a 39-ball 73 because the vacationers fell brief in Barbados.
Despite the fact that England are effectively stocked for retaining choices, with Billings and Phil Salt within the squad and Buttler and Jonny Bairstow resting again house, Banton is passionate about supplementing his batting in limited-overs cricket.
He mentioned: “Protecting wicket is essential to me but it surely’s in all probability not been my primary precedence if I’m being brutally sincere.
“I’ve at all times centered on my batting and now I’ve received to some extent this 12 months the place I’ve realised that it’s one thing that I can actually attempt to work on and get higher on as a result of I’ve not accomplished an excessive amount of work on it previously.
“However I feel for red-ball, in all probability a little bit bit an excessive amount of of a toll on my again. After just a few days within the subject, I’ll in all probability be a bit sore. However, yeah, I actually wish to work on it.”
Banton counts World Cup-winning Buttler amongst his position fashions and the similarities between the pair are apparent, having come by way of the identical set-up at Somerset whereas they’re each famend for his or her clear and highly effective putting.
Requested if he’s seeking to comply with Buttler’s pathway, Banton mentioned: “It needs to be. He’s in all probability the very best on the planet.
“I’m fairly good mates with Jos and it’s bizarre as a result of I look as much as him, now I get to play with him and it’s superior. Undoubtedly, I wish to comply with in his footsteps.”
Considered one in all England’s greatest prospects, Banton has additionally earned comparisons with Kevin Pietersen however the former England batter was left unimpressed after watching the teen throughout a Hundred match final August.
In his position as a Sky pundit, Pietersen opined Banton was “losing” his expertise, including: “He wants to transform the best way he goes about his batting. There’s a huge psychological change that should occur there.”
Banton was stung by the remarks however a cellphone name with Pietersen the next day smoothed issues over.
Kevin Pietersen, pictured, delivered a withering critique of Tom Banton however the pair have smoothed issues over (Jason O’Brien/PA)
(PA Archive)
The 23-year-old mentioned: “It was onerous to listen to to be sincere, I’m not going to lie. I keep in mind I used to be sat there after The Hundred recreation and listening to him speak on Sky whereas I used to be consuming after which I known as him the subsequent day and he sort of defined a bit extra about what he meant.
“There’s good and unhealthy issues being mentioned about each participant on a regular basis, most of the time it’s unhealthy. It’s sort of the game we’re in so that you’ve simply received to get on with it.”
Banton has beforehand spoken in regards to the difficulties of spending time in Covid bubbles, whether or not with England or in franchise groups, so will skip the Pakistan Tremendous League and Indian Premier League to give attention to the county season.
England’s whistle-stop white-ball tour of the Caribbean permits gamers to eat outdoors at some eating places and participate in golf, a far cry from the strict and claustrophobic restrictions Banton has needed to modify to within the final two years.
He added: “After a time, it simply takes its toll. I need to have the ability to additionally stay my life and never simply be caught in a resort. I wish to see my buddies and be at house, see my household, in addition to taking part in cricket.”
Kaynak: briturkish.com
