Tom Banton signed by Brisbane Heat for the coming season of Big Bash League

Opening batsman Tom Banton has been named as England Young Player of the Year, after producing consistent performances for Somerset across all three formats.  Due to incredible form in the Vitality T20 Blast, Banton has been signed by Brisbane Heat for the upcoming edition of Big Bash League.

The 20-year old has been Brisbane’s second overseas acquisition after AB De Villiers. He is all set to play in the first eight matches of the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat. AB De Villiers have been signed for the last six games of the competition.

Tom Banton has managed to grab the headlines due to his incredible batting performances in this year’s T20 competition. He has accumulated 549 runs at a strike of 161.47. He also scored his maiden T20 century against Kent off 51 balls. It was due to his incredible performances, he earned his maiden call-up to the England’s T20 squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Tom Banton expressed his happiness over his signing for Brisbane Heat. He said that it is going to incredible experience sharing the dressing room with a world-class player like AB De Villiers. The right-handed batsman also shared that he has played club cricket in Perth in his early days.

Brisbane Heat Head Coach Darren Lehmann said that, “Banton has been in the limelight for his incredible performances for Somerset in this year’s Vitality T20 Blast competition.”  Lehmann said that he is clean strike of a cricket ball and has a wide range of strokes in his armor. He is certainly one player who can take on the bowlers inside the Power play overs.

With the acquisition of Tom Banton and AB De Villiers, Brisbane Heat has managed to bolster their batting resources for the coming season of Big Bash League. With the likes of Afghanistan players like Zahir Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the squad, Brisbane Heat will be keen to get off to a good start when they take on Sydney Thunder in the opening game of Big Bash League on 17^th December.