Jacob bethel

Indian Premier League: England's Tom Banton is excited to play for the country in the ongoing Champions Trophy after being named as a late replacement for injured Jacob Bethel in the squad. The 26-year-old made his international debut six days short of his 20th birthday back in 2019 following a breakthrough summer which also led to Big Bash and Indian Premier League (IPL) deals as well as comparisons with the likes of Kevin Pietersen.

He endured a lean spell thereafter but has worked his way back to the top level, an ascent he attributes to ‘keeping his head down’, 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.

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.