Former England captain Nasser Hussain praised the revival of Tom Banton, describing it as a "second coming" for the talented batsman, and suggested that the recent appointment of former England star Kevin Pietersen as the white‑ball mentor could be instrumental in shaping Banton's role in the middle order. Banton delivered a standout performance in the recent T20 clash against Sri Lanka, top‑scoring for England with an unbeaten 52 runs off just 24 deliveries.
His aggressive knock came in partnership with skipper Harry Brook, who added a rapid 23 off eight balls after Jos Buttler, who had already reached the milestone of 15,000 T20 runs, contributed 30 off 16. England comfortably chased down Sri Lanka's modest total of 145‑9, finishing with 7.5 overs to spare.
This half‑century marked Banton's third fifty since he was re‑positioned from an opening role to the middle order, a shift that Hussain highlighted during a Sky Sports interview. "Banton has been really good in his second coming after moving from opener to the middle order," Hussain said, emphasizing the positive impact of the change.
While much of the discussion surrounding Pietersen's new coaching duties has centred on his potential influence on Harry Brook, Hussain believes the former England great could also be a catalyst for Banton's continued development. "Everyone talks about what Kevin Pietersen can do for Harry Brook, but I think Pietersen could be good for Banton," Hussain remarked. He recalled that Pietersen had once spoken highly of Banton during his early days at Somerset, but that the young player later fell off the radar. "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," Hussain explained.
According to Hussain, Banton has responded to that challenge with determination. "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," he added, underscoring the importance of continual growth in elite sport.
Former Sri Lanka captain and Sky Sports analyst Kumar Sangakkara also lauded Banton's performance, noting his ability to handle a variety of deliveries. "He was just exceptional. Anything that was pitched full, he cleared his front leg.
Anything that was on the stumps, straight down the ground," Sangakkara observed. He further praised Banton's power and timing, especially against pace and spin, saying, "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." Hussain also singled out spinner Liam Dawson for his crucial spell, in which he claimed three wickets for 32 runs. Dawson's spell included a dramatic two‑wicket over that turned the match in England's favour when Sri Lanka's openers were settling in. "England just outplayed Sri Lanka in every department," Hussain said.
He highlighted the turning point: "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." Hussain praised Dawson's experience and tactical acumen, especially on a ground where spin can be difficult to utilise effectively.
"He's a very smart cricketer. He's a very tough cricketer and he's been around a long time.
And he'll know what sort of lengths and lines to bowl on this particular ground. So that was brilliant from Dawson," he added. The loss marked Sri Lanka's 14th consecutive defeat to England in T20 internationals, a statistic that Hussain used to illustrate a broader decline in the Sri Lankan side compared with its historic standards.
"Sri Lanka are just way off the side that I've seen over the years – just way off," he commented. He pointed to a noticeable drop in batting quality, noting that while past Sri Lankan greats could stroke the ball with elegance, the current lineup seemed to rely on brute force and over‑hitting. "On good pitches, last game, this game, the moment there was a bit of pace, they're losing their shape," Hussain observed, indicating that the team's technique crumbles under pressure.
He highlighted the stark statistical disparity: England delivered 50 dot balls, struck ten sixes, while Sri Lanka managed only two sixes despite the presence of straight boundaries. "In every metric today, England completely outplayed them.
There were 50 dot balls. Ten sixes England scored, and Sri Lanka scored two sixes, even with these straight boundaries," Hussain said.
He warned that coaches and cricket administrators would have to confront these shortcomings, especially when facing a side as formidable as England. "A coach or a director of cricket or whoever will look at and sit back and go, that wasn't good enough – and when you're playing against England, those metrics have to be closer together. They are miles apart," he concluded.
Looking ahead, England will continue their T20 campaign with the next match against Sri Lanka scheduled for 2:30 pm on Saturday, broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also follow the action via NOW TV's streaming service, which offers a contract‑free option. All match times are listed in UK and Ireland local time.