The opener who hits it clean
Banton's batting is built on timing and power. A right-hander who opens for Somerset, he has scored hundreds in the T20 Blast and in The Hundred, and his strike rate in franchise cricket is among the best of any English opener. He hits the ball cleanly down the ground and over the ropes, and he does it from the first over.
- Role: Wicketkeeper
- Team: Sharjah Warriorz
- Batting: Right-handed
- Bowling: Right-arm off break
- Born: 11 November 1998, Chiltern, England
For the Warriorz he is the first-choice wicketkeeper and a top-order batter who can take the powerplay apart. With Vince at the other end, the opening pair has two right-handers who score quickly and put pressure on the bowlers from ball one — and Banton's keeping means the side does not need to carry a specialist gloveman.
From Somerset to England and back
Banton made his England debut in 2019 and has played ODIs and T20Is, including a hundred against Ireland in an ODI. He has played in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders, in the BBL for Brisbane Heat, and in the ILT20 before — including for MI Emirates, where he opened with Muhammad Waseem.
He has also had to rebuild his game after losing his England place, and his recent seasons for Somerset have been his best: big runs in the Blast, a Hundred hundred, and a recall to the England set-up. Season 5 is another chance to show why he was once called the most exciting young batter in England.
The Sharjah Warriorz around him
Banton is the most explosive top-order option in the squad: a Somerset wicketkeeper-batter who can open and clear any boundary in the ground.
He made his England debut in 2019, has played ODIs and T20Is, including a hundred against Ireland in an ODI, and has played in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders and in the BBL for Brisbane Heat. He has played in the ILT20 before, including for MI Emirates, where he opened with Muhammad Waseem, and his batting is built on timing and power, hundreds in the T20 Blast and in The Hundred, and a strike rate among the best of any English opener.
What’s next
Three league games to start the season for Sharjah Warriorz, then the run to the playoffs. The full list of every ILT20 fixture is on the ILT20 Schedule page.
- Match 2 — Sharjah Warriorz vs Gulf Giants: Sunday 22 November 2026, afternoon session, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.
- Match 4 — Sharjah Warriorz vs Desert Vipers: Monday 23 November 2026, evening session, Sharjah.
- Match 8 — Sharjah Warriorz vs Dubai Capitals: Friday 27 November 2026, evening session, Sharjah.
Qualifier 1 on Tuesday 16 December, the Eliminator on Wednesday 17 December, Qualifier 2 on Friday 18 December in Sharjah, and the final on Sunday 20 December in Dubai.
Follow every ILT20 result as it happens on SialTV, with the points table updated after every match day.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tom Banton's role?
Wicketkeeper-batter. He opens the batting for Somerset and Sharjah Warriorz and takes the gloves.
Did Tom Banton score a hundred for England?
Yes — an ODI hundred against Ireland, after making his England debut in 2019.
Which IPL team has Tom Banton played for?
Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside his BBL stint with Brisbane Heat and his Somerset career.