He endured a lean spell thereafter but has worked his way back to the top level, an ascent he attributes to \u2018keeping his head down\u2019, and arrives in Pakistan in flying form. He amassed 493 runs at an average of 54.77 during the recent ILT20 in the UAE, with two centuries and three fifties, to build on his excellent form throughout 2024 in various short-form tournaments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Those numbers propelled Banton back into the thoughts of new England white-ball coach Brendon McCullum, who coached Banton while leading Kolkata Knight Riders in 2020.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
And when Jacob Bethell\u2019s hamstring injury ruled him out of the forthcoming Champions Trophy, Banton was the obvious candidate to slot into England\u2019s 15-man squad.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously very special to be in and around all the boys again,\u201d ICC quoted Banton as saying. \u201cWearing an England shirt again is such a special feeling. It was something I\u2019d missed but it was something I didn\u2019t think too much about.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI kept my head down and stayed in my lane and just tried to do as well as I could. It\u2019s a very special feeling and I\u2019m excited for the tournament to get started,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Banton joined up with the England squad ahead of their third ODI against India in which he joint-top scored with a composed 38 batting at number three, clearing the rope twice in the process, to mark the end of his five-year hiatus from the ODI stage and his first England appearance since 2022. Banton joked that he \u2018doesn\u2019t want to speak too soon\u2019 when asked about his current form \u2013 he knows more than anyone how quickly things can change in cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Instead, he hopes to take everything in his stride and enjoy playing the game he fell out of love with a few years ago. It was a period which, despite being difficult, has helped him in the long run.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t wish that upon anyone, but I guess that\u2019s part of life. I\u2019ve learned so much about myself away from cricket as well as through cricket,\" he said. \u201cI\u2019m not feeling sorry for myself, I just had a bad run of form, that\u2019s sometimes how cricket is. But it\u2019s put me in a better position now and it\u2019s giving me a better understanding of life and cricket. There\u2019s obviously always pressure when you\u2019re playing for England. Playing for your country is the greatest thing you can do.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut I don\u2019t want to put too much pressure on myself, I haven\u2019t really the last year or so. I feel I\u2019ve got a bit more of an understanding about my game at the moment. I just want to enjoy it and try and contribute towards the team.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The ICC Men\u2019s Champions Trophy 2025 will be the first installment of the competition since 2017 and Banton\u2019s goal is for England, who have reached the semi-finals of the competition twice, to lift the trophy come March 9. \u201cWe won\u2019t get too far ahead of ourselves,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019ll just take each game as it comes, enjoy training, and enjoy the time off. Pakistan is a great place so hopefully, we can get out and do some cool things while we\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The competition could be a springboard for Banton to cement his place in England\u2019s white-ball teams on a more permanent basis, while his County Championship form for Somerset has even opened up talk of a Test call-up in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But the tall right-hander is just focused on doing his bit for the team and knows if he continues performing well, the rest will look after itself. \u201cI\u2019m not going to get too far ahead and get caught up with all that,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just going to keep doing what I\u2019ve been doing and hopefully that stuff takes care of itself. I\u2019d love to play and love to do well, but if that\u2019s not to happen then I\u2019ll still try and learn as much as I can.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The competition could be a springboard for Banton to cement his place in England\u2019s white-ball teams on a more permanent basis, while his County Championship form for Somerset has even opened up talk of a Test call-up in the future.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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