SAM MORSHEAD - EXCLUSIVE: It seems remarkable that a player with Banton's ability - comparisons to the wristy stylings of Kevin Pietersen and the 360-degree strokeplay of Jos Buttler are not overhyped - could speak about fears of "losing it"
At 21 years old, Tom Banton has already experienced much more than most cricketers manage in a lifetime.
The prodigious batsman, who announced himself so spectacularly in last year’s T20 Blast that the world of franchise cricket came quickly calling, spent the winter in a white-ball whirlwind which blew him from Taunton to the UAE to Brisbane to Peshawar and back, via an international debut in New Zealand and further appearances in South Africa.
For Banton, those six months were as exhausting as they were exhilarating and, by the end of his franchise jetset, he admitted to feeling somewhat fatigued.
Though his stint in the Big Bash was a success - he has since signed a two-year contract with Brisbane Heat - as the winter wore on, the runs did not come as freely. The game became more complicated. For a player like Banton, who relies on a simple ‘see ball, hit ball’ mantra, that spelled trouble.
With that in mind, the enforced lay-off cricket has experienced as a result of the coronavirus pandemic has curiously done Banton a favour.
“It’s probably the best thing that could have happened. I would have been coming straight back from the PSL and straight off to the IPL, and I would have been absolutely finished I reckon,” he tells The Cricketer ahead of England’s three-match ODI series at Southampton, which begins on Tuesday.
“To have that break is probably the best thing for me. I’m looking forward to this series and the winter, to hopefully improve and keep doing well.
Tom Banton made his ODI debut in South Africa in February
“We’ve had a few warm-up games and the first few didn’t go too well for me, and I was worrying I’d completely lost it. I got 60 not out and that was good, I felt I was back to where I was last year.
“Towards the end of the winter I was maybe over-thinking things. I went out the other day and saw the ball and hit it. We’ll see how it goes, hopefully I’ll score some runs.”
It seems remarkable that a player with Banton’s extraordinary ability - comparisons to the wristy stylings of Kevin Pietersen and the 360-degree strokeplay of Jos Buttler are not overspun - could speaks about fears of “losing it”.
But that is an issue with a constant barrage of short-form cricket, in which young men are bought at great expense by wealthy team owners and expected to perform on demand in unfamiliar outposts around the world.
For Banton, the experience of the franchise circuit over the winter of 2019/20 has taught him several key lessons.
The first came from a conversation with Hashim Amla, the great South African batsman who was part of the Peshawar Zalmi coaching staff during PSL5. Banton was at the end of his six-month marathon globetrot and in a rut.
On the field, he averaged little more than 12 across seven innings with two ducks, while off it the extreme security measures given to PSL teams by the PCB and the subsequent lack of freedom for the players wore down his enthusiasm.
“I realised in Pakistan that there’s a lot more to cricket. I didn’t do very well and I thought ‘this is horrible’,” he says.
“[Amla] said ‘mate, just enjoy it, a lot of people do a lot to be here… you need to take a step back and realise that you have to enjoy it as much as possible’.
“That’s the mindset I’ve got at the moment: keep trying to be happy and enjoy what you’re doing.”
Secondly, Banton is considering putting a cap on the number of tournaments he competes in over the English close-season.
There might not be another sojourn to the T10 League in the UAE any time soon, for example, and even the PSL might be off limits. Though the lure of playing in front of raucous crowds and alongside global stars, all the while earning handsomely, is an attractive proposition, Banton has seen a harsh reality of the sport’s endless cycle in recent months. At 21, there is no need to inflict burnout on himself.
The Cricketer asks about his 2020/21 schedule.
Banton had a successful spell at Brisbane Heat
“Maybe not playing in every tournament possible,” he says. “We’ll see. I think it’s going to be another busy winter ahead, with international stuff if I get picked and then the Big Bash.”
One tournament he would never set aside is the Indian Premier League, despite the protestations of a former England captain earlier this year.
In January, Michael Vaughan wrote in a Daily Telegraph column that Banton would be better off ditching his Kolkata Knight Riders contract and instead spending April and May playing County Championship cricket.
Banton is desperate to succeed in the red-ball arena, but turning down the opportunity to experience the IPL was never a legitimate option.
“As a kid growing up, the IPL was probably the first cricket I saw and ever since I first watched it I’ve wanted to go there. To actually get the chance to go is a dream come true,” he said.
“I spoke to a few people (about Vaughan’s comments) and they said ‘absolutely not, you 100 per cent have to go’.
“I can’t wait. It’s going to be at the end of our season, and I can’t wait to get over there.”
Finally, Banton realised that life on the road does not necessarily better players’ skills.
“Sometimes you’re not training the basics as well as you want. When you’re back with your county there’s more time and effort put into your training,” he says.
“I try to nail the basics as much as possible, and maybe that’s something I should do more, if I do go away next time.”
Now, though, the focus has pivoted back to international cricket.
Banton is part of the 14-man squad for England’s first 50-over meeting with Ireland on Tuesday and will hope to play some part in the series, having recovered from a niggling shoulder problem in the build-up.
Banton's time at Peshawar Zalmi was more difficult
It’s likely that if he does play, it won’t be in the opening role he so enjoys, but rather as a finisher down the order. That doesn’t bother Banton, who is happy to be the apprentice in a world-champion team.
“I just have to wait my time if I’m going to open the batting,” he says. “I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as possible; playing for England is not something you do every day of the week.
“It [batting in the middle order] is not something I’ve done too much of but hopefully I can get a few runs and give myself a bit of confidence.”
Just one look at the list of batsmen not involved in this England squad shows the ludicrous depth and range of talent the selectors have to choose from. Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Buttler are all playing Test cricket, Liam Livingstone and Phil Salt only made the reserves for this series, while Sam Hain - holder of the best List A average of all time - failed to make the cut.. Alex Hales remains ostracised and in exile.
“You’ve always got to do well otherwise you’re gone, and that’s international cricket for you. You have to keep performing,” Banton says, but he’s pragmatic.
“I’m still only 21 and if it doesn’t work out for me within the next few months I know I’ve got a long time. I still don’t know my game inside out at the moment.”
Banton needs to rediscover his mojo, and there cannot be a better captain worldwide for a young, dynamic, attacking batsman to thrive under than Eoin Morgan.
“Morgs wants to play this aggressive brand of cricket and I think that suits my game quite nicely,” Banton says.
“Having that support from him is obviously really nice. Knowing that when go out, if you do get out playing in an aggressive way you’re not going to get shouted at.
“He’s always told me to carry on playing the way I have done. I’m going to keep going back to what I’ve been doing.”
See ball, hit ball - in every direction. It has been a tiring winter for Tom Banton. Now, opportunity knocks again.
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Posted by Marc Evans on 31/07/2020 at 19:17
Having 'extraordinary' ability is useless unless it's transferred to consistent achievement. I'm getting bored with Banton being eulogised from the rooftops as I've yet to see him play a significant innings. Just hope he can knuckle down and not play iffy shots like he did against Ireland. Young players often seem to give it away when they're in. This can go on for a long time too, look at Vince. Let's not put youngsters under pressure till after they've achieved something significant, as promise can become a millstone for them.