ILT20: Gulf Giants batter Tom Banton can’t wait to play with Shimron Hetmyer and Chris Lynn

The
dynamic
wicket-keeper
batter,
who
burst
onto
the
England
domestic
scene
in
2017,
can’t
wait
to
join
his
teammates
ahead
of
the
tournament.

With
the
ILT20
seeing
some
big
names
in
the
mix,
Banton
is
raring
to
go
and
hopes
to
make
more
than
a
splash
in
the
tournament.

“It’s
really
exciting.
It’s
been
talked
about
now
for
the
last
few
years
and
I
am
happy
to
be
a
part
of
this
mega
league,
which
is
going
to
get
very
competitive
with
every
player
giving
his
best.
Our
first
game
is
on
the
15th
and
I
am
set
to
go,”
Banton
said.

The
swashbuckling
batter
has
plenty
of
experience
under
his
belt
in
franchise
cricket,
having
plied
his
trade
in
England,
Abu
Dhabi
and
Pakistan,
and
will
hope
to
replicate
his
har-hitting
prowess
as
he
takes
on
the
centre
stage
for
Gulf
Giants.

Gulf
Giants
squad
also
has
in
the
ranks
some
of
the
most
exciting
T20
talents
such
as
Australia’s
Chris
Lynn,
West
Indies’ Shimron
Hetmyer,
England’s
James
Vince
and
Chris
Jordan.
The
likes
of
David
Wiese,
Dominic
Drakes
also
feature
in
the
squad,
with
the
Zimbabwean
legend
Andy
Flower
as
the
coach.

Talking
about
his
colleagues,
Banton
said,

“Andy
is
one
of
the
best
coaches
in
the
world.
I
worked
him
during
T10
and
he
has
so
much
to
offer
to
Adani’s
Gulf
Giants.
I
have
learnt
a
lot
from
him.
He
simplifies
everything
for
you.
I
feel
so
privileged
to
be
part
of
the
Giants,
where
you
have
so
many
experienced
players.”

The
player
is
excited
to
play
alongside
Shimron
Hetmyer
and
hopes
that
his
familiarity
with
most
of
the
squad
members
will
play
a
big
part
in
building
the
bonding
of
the
squad.

The
24-year-old,
whose
brother
and
father
have
also
played
a
bit
of
professional
cricket,
has
scored
two
centuries
and
14
fifties
in
just
over
a
hundred
T20
games.

Reflecting
on
his
previous
outings
in
the
UAE,
the
English
batter
said,

“I
have
spent
a
lot
of
time
here
so
I
am
well
aware
of
the
conditions
and
the
weather.
The
wickets
are
bit
different
as
compared
to
what
we
have
back
in
England.
I
will
definitely
pass
on
my
knowledge
of
playing
here
to
the
youngsters
in
the
team
and
hopefully
that
will
help
them
and
all
of
us
to
put
on
a
good
show
in
the
Gulf
Giants’
jersey.”

Banton
also
touched
upon
the
camaraderie
he
shares
with
the
explosive
Chris
Lynn.
The
duo
were
part
of
the
Brisbane
Heat
team,
where
they
took
opposition
bowlers
to
task.

“Chris
is
one
of
the
best
players
in
this
format
of
the
game
and
to
open
with
him
would
be
an
honour.
I
am
excited
about
the
partnership
and
hope
we
can
get
our
team
to
a
flying
start
every
time
we
are
at
the
crease,”
Banton
concluded.

The
English
batter
will
also
see
this
tournament
as
an
opportunity
to
get
his
route
back
to
the
England
national
team.
He
has
played
14
T20I
games
for
England,
scoring
327
runs
with
a
strike
rate
of
148.
He
last
played
for
England
in
January
last
year
and
will
be
hoping
to
make
a
return
to
the
national
team.

(with
inputs
from
agency)