England new boy Tom Banton reveals Test ambition

The Somerset star has only just embarked on his international career but is already targeting an outing in the longest format

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Tom Banton might be setting the T20 international world alight but England's newest star is already eyeing a place in the Test side.

The 20-year-old has caught the eye during his first two outings for his country in the 20-over series against New Zealand, registering some hefty blows up against the likes of Tim Southee and Lockie Ferguson.

Former England captain Nasser Hussain is among those to have hailed the Somerset star, who rose to prominence during last season's T20 Blast when he finished as the second highest run-scorer.

But despite being in the early stages of his England career, Banton is already targeting a Test call-up though he admits he requires more experience in the red-ball arena.

"At the start of the year I didn't know what I preferred and I just did better in white-ball cricket," he told BBC's Test Match Special.

"I still definitely want to play Test cricket for England.

Reverse sweeps, hockey and me: The story of Tom Banton, the Somerset batsman with the world at his feet

"Opening the batting in red-ball cricket is the hardest part of the game," he said. "I'm always looking to improve. I've only played 12 Championship games.

"Game by game, you find out what you need to improve. And when I'm back after this winter I will know what to work on."

Banton has registered scores of 18 and 31 in his two England appearances, innings which were punctuated by some typically inventive and blistering hitting.

The youngster, who turns 21 next week, has revealed he was apprehensive ahead of his debut in the third T20I of the five-match series, before launching Southee for a boundary from his third delivery.

"The morning of the game, I was a bit nervous," he added. 

"Once I was fielding it was a bit more normal and when I was batting it was just like a game I was playing for Somerset.

"To get that early boundary was what I was dreaming of to begin with, so that was nice."

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