Kolkata Knight Riders recruit Tom Banton is hopeful a solid stretch of form in the Indian Premier League will secure a berth in England's squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.
Banton, who scored 18, 31 and seven during last year's debut T20I series in New Zealand, is currently with the England squad for three ODIs in South Africa.
He will then join the Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League and later Kolkata for the 2020 IPL. Bet365 have Kolkata offered at 8.00 to win the IPL in 2020.
What Banton said
“I'm yet to get a score with an England badge on, which is pretty disappointing,” he said. “I've only played three games, I know, but it's something to do.
“Maybe that 30 against New Zealand could have gone on to be a 60 and it would have been completely different, but I'm not going to change the way I've played.
“The white-ball team seems so strong at the moment but I'd love to go to the T20 World Cup. You've just got to keep performing, haven't you? We've got the summer coming up and an IPL so I think some strong performances there are going to help.”
The hard-hitting Banton recently played for the Brisbane Heat in Australia's Big Bash League. He struck three half-centuries in seven innings before joining England in South Africa.
“I think the last few months, I've kind of lost, not the basics of cricket, but just there that net session didn't feel like how I'd have liked it to have done,” he added.
“I just feel I'm not coming forward as much as I'd like to, but I guess there's always areas you can improve on. I just want to keep enjoying my cricket, I love playing it and a bad net session isn't going to change a career.”
Banton will be team-mates with fellow England internationals Eoin Morgan and Harry Gurney at the Knight Riders, who also have New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson, Australia's Pat Cummins, West Indian pair Sunil Narine and Andre Russell and other international talent. Former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is their new head coach. He succeeded former head coach Jacques Kallis.
