Exploring why Tom Banton works so well batting four

Today, I look at Tom Banton's game vs. spin, some of his strengths and why it could work so well in the T20 World Cup.

Before England’s pre-T20 World Cup bilateral series against Sri Lanka, it seemed almost set in stone that Ben Duckett would be selected to bat at number four.

Of course, he’s an opener by trade, but plays spin so well. In a competition likely to be dictated by spinners, having a batter as good as Duckett against the turning ball seemed logical.

But a minor injury kept him out of the first two games of the series against Sri Lanka. The Nottinghamshire man played the third game as an opener, where he was dismissed for a golden duck.

In his absence, Tom Banton got the nod at four.

It is fair to say the Somerset batter snatched Duckett’s chain, securing his place at number four thanks to a series of impressive performances.

Despite being an opener himself, Banton has proven to be an excellent fit to bat at four.

The Somerset academy graduate scored 90 runs across three innings, more than any other England batter, making scores of 29, 54 not out and 7. He had a devastating strike rate of 163.63, bettered only by captain Harry Brook.

Banton slotting in at number four wasn’t a move I saw coming, but it is one that has proven to be an excellent decision by England.

He certainly took to a less familiar middle order role with ease. He’s done it before in an England shirt, but this felt an easier transition because of how dominant he is against spin.

An attacking weapon vs. spin

The 27-year-old is a wonderful player of the turning ball. He bats with excellent conviction against spinners and can score 360°, making it very hard to bowl to him. His career strike rate in all T20s against spin is currently an impressive 156.3. He is utterly destructive.

The standout attacking shot he has against a spinner is the switch hit. Banton loves to flip his hands and feet around and hit over the top of the offside, usually targeting behind square.

That shot, and the reverse sweep, are common in the modern game, of course.

Yet, Banton’s execution is near flawless, and those are two shots I’d expect him to nail nine times out of 10. It’s certainly an effective method of run-scoring for him.

Using his feet is another real strength of Banton’s against spin. I love watching the Somerset batter skip down the pitch and hit over the top.

I already mentioned the word conviction. Banton always commits to his shots, but doing so when using your feet is essential, and he manages that well.

This high-level ability using his feet helps him to throw bowlers off their line and length and access new parts of the ground. He’s brilliant running down the pitch and hitting over the infield, anywhere from cover, right the way round to midwicket.

Whilst Duckett is a specialist sweeper of the ball, he isn’t necessarily as strong using his feet. That is where I think England’s new number four trumps his competitor for that role. For me, it makes his side more dynamic in that middle order.

I also love the way Banton hits from the crease. For me, that’s a key skill against the slower, turning ball, and is something he does well.

The 27-year-old has a powerful base from which he strikes the ball, which helps him to generate so much force from deeper in his crease. At times, he snaps his wrists, Jos Buttler-esque, which also gives him an advantage, generating more power.

The Somerset star reminds me, in many ways, of Kevin Pietersen. The way he takes the spinners on with his switch hits and big booming drives is very reminiscent to me of one of England’s greatest.

England’s genius move

The 27-year-old is so dynamic and destructive against spin, which will be a huge benefit for England going into a World Cup that will be so spin-heavy. There was one standout moment from Banton during the first T20i which exemplified that.

In the eighth over, he hit Wanindu Hasaranga for a four and a six with a switch hit, before pulling him for six over midwicket. In the next over, his methods of finding the boundary changed.

Banton moved outside leg stump to create room for himself, and the bowler, Maheesh Theekshana, dropped the ball slightly shorter. The England batter simply rocked back and punched a ball which pitched on middle and leg over extra cover for four.

That, for me, was Exhibit A when it comes to why Banton can be such a danger against spin.

He hit two glorious switch hits for 10 runs in two balls, cleared the rope over midwicket and rounded it out with a backfoot punch outside leg-stump for four over cover, within a matter of deliveries.

If the Somerset star bats like that consistently over the next few weeks, he’s going to be hard to stop.

Banton at four just works. Whether this was always the plan, or England stumbled upon it because of Duckett’s injury, I think it’s a genius move from the think-tank of Brook and Brendon McCullum.

I’m fascinated to see how this plays out; I think this could be a game-changer for England and a chance for Banton to have a memorable T20 World Cup.