Tom Banton’s understated 39 has given England a fresh selection wrinkle before Tuesday’s third T20I against India at Trent Bridge.
The scoreboard headline from Old Trafford belonged to Jacob Bethell, whose unbeaten 76 dragged England to a four-wicket win after India had posted 190 for seven. But Banton’s 39 from 32 balls was the innings that stopped the chase from becoming frantic after Phil Salt and Jos Buttler both fell for ducks in Arshdeep Singh’s opening over, as Sky Sports reported.
Banton turns Trent Bridge into selection test
England already have a Bethell-centred boost, covered in ReadCricket’s latest look at the series momentum. Banton’s part gives Harry Brook a different kind of evidence: middle-order control when the powerplay has gone wrong.
That matters because the series is still effectively at its first decision point after the Durham opener was washed out. The ECB schedule sends the teams to Nottingham on 7 July before Bristol and Southampton complete the five-match run.
India will see a clear target. Remove Bethell and force Banton to accelerate earlier. England will see something just as valuable: a batting order that survived 1-2 and still had enough shape to chase 191. That is the tactical note Nottingham now has to answer, especially if India hold back spin for the pressure overs.
