Former England captain Nasser Hussain has praised the resurgence of Tom Banton, describing it as a "second coming" for the dynamic batsman, and he believes that the arrival of new white‑ball mentor Kevin Pietersen could be pivotal for Banton’s continued growth in the middle order. Banton showcased his class in the recent T20 clash against Sri Lanka, top‑scoring for England with an unbeaten 52 runs off just 24 deliveries. His aggressive yet controlled innings blended seamlessly with skipper Harry Brook, who contributed a quickfire 23 off eight balls after Jos Buttler’s brisk 30 off 16 helped him become the first player to reach 15,000 runs in T20 cricket. England comfortably chased down Sri Lanka’s modest total of 145‑9, finishing the chase with 7.5 overs to spare.
This half‑century marked Banton’s third fifty since he was repositioned from an opening role to the middle order, a shift that Hussain highlighted during his Sky Sports interview. "Banton has been really good in his second coming after moving from opener to the middle order," Hussain said, underscoring how the change has unlocked new facets of his game.
While much of the conversation around Pietersen’s appointment has centered on his potential impact on Harry Brook, Hussian believes the former England star can also be a catalyst for Banton. "Everyone talks about what Kevin Pietersen can do for Harry Brook, but I think Pietersen could be good for Banton," he noted.
Hussain recalled Pietersen’s early admiration for Banton during his Somerset days, followed by candid feedback that urged the young cricketer to work harder. "KP raved about Banton when he came through at Somerset but then he fell away and KP made a couple of comments saying he had to work hard. He has worked hard and we are now seeing the rewards of that. KP will now be saying, 'keep improving'.
That's what great players do," Hussain added. Kumar Sangakkara, now a pundit for Sky Sports Cricket, also lauded Banton’s development, especially his handling of pace and spin.
"He was just exceptional. Anything that was pitched full, he cleared his front leg. Anything that was on the stumps, straight down the ground.
Even with pace, he's got that power and that timing to really make a difference. I think he was exceptional. His development, especially against spin, has been brilliant for England," Sangakkara remarked. Hussain didn’t limit his praise to Banton; he also highlighted the crucial spell bowled by spinner Liam Dawson.
Dawson claimed three wickets for 32 runs in Sri Lanka’s innings, including a dramatic two‑in‑two burst that turned the match’s momentum. "England just outplayed Sri Lanka in every department," Hussain observed. "At 55‑0 after five overs, you thought Sri Lanka were actually going to put on a showing here and maybe test England. But it was Liam Dawson with two in an over that changed the course of the match.
On a ground where sometimes bowling spin isn’t easy and sides often leave out their spinner, he was brilliant. He's a very smart cricketer, a very tough cricketer and he's been around a long time. He knows what sort of lengths and lines to bowl on this particular ground. So that was brilliant from Dawson." The defeat marked Sri Lanka’s 14th consecutive loss to England in T20 internationals, a statistic that, to Hussain, signaled a broader decline compared with past Sri Lankan sides.
"Sri Lanka are just way off the side that I've seen over the years – just way off," he said. "It’s a massive drop‑off in the batting in particular.
I've watched some of their greats and they were stroke‑makers, hitting sixes and fours with ease. What I see at the moment is people trying to over‑hit. On good pitches, last game, this game, the moment there was a bit of pace, they're losing their shape." Hussain pointed to the stark statistical disparity as evidence of England’s dominance.
"In every metric today, England completely outplayed them. There were 50 dot balls, ten sixes England scored, and Sri Lanka managed only two sixes, even with those straight boundaries. A coach or a director of cricket will look at those numbers and realise that wasn’t good enough – and when you’re playing against England, those metrics have to be much closer. They are miles apart." Looking ahead, the discussion around Pietersen’s role continues.
As a former prolific batsman with a deep understanding of white‑ball cricket, Pietersen’s mentorship could help Banton refine his shot selection, improve his temperament under pressure, and adapt his aggressive style to different match situations. Hussain’s optimism suggests that with the right guidance, Banton could evolve from a promising talent into a cornerstone of England’s middle order, offering stability and firepower. For fans eager to catch more action, England’s third T20 against Sri Lanka will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event, starting at 2:30 pm on Saturday (UK time). The match promises further opportunities to see how Banton, under Pietersen’s tutelage, and other England stars perform on the world stage.