Tom Banton delivered on all of his potential by crashing a brilliant first international century as England wrapped up their summer with a commanding ODI series win over Sri Lanka at The Oval.
A century five years in the making
The 27-year-old right-hander was once seen as the rising star of English cricket when handed his debut in 2019, but afterwards fell out of love with the game and lost his way, spending almost five years out of the 50-over side. On Sunday, he reached his hundred in 95 balls and stood with arms wide, looking to the sky — all of that disappointment seemingly behind him.
Banton made 126 from 105 deliveries, countering tricky early conditions in which Joe Root struggled uncharacteristically for 18 from 37 balls, and then sharing an increasingly aggressive stand of 150 in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook. When he walked off, he turned and raised his bat amid a standing ovation from the crowd at The Oval — a gesture that drew an inevitable comparison with Kevin Pietersen, who famously did the same 21 years earlier. Pietersen, now an England mentor, had said last week that Banton remains “in awe” of the iconic batter.
“To score a hundred for England is just the best feeling on earth,” Banton said. “I don’t think anything is going to beat it.”
England show their depth
England posted 355 for 7 from their 50 overs, built around Banton’s 16 fours and five sixes, Brook’s 77, and a 52-ball 76 from Jordan Cox, who was picked in place of the injured Jos Buttler and showed his worth with a knock that built on an impressive run in the Test side against Pakistan.
Sonny Baker, recalled for only his second ODI in place of Josh Tongue, removed Pathum Nissanka with a quick, swinging and rising delivery two balls into the second over. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also repaid his selection over Rehan Ahmed with figures of 3 for 26. Sri Lanka collapsed to 132 all out in 29.1 overs — their highest-ever defeat by England in an ODI — handing England a 223-run win and their fifth successive series win across formats.
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Banton’s opportunity as opener came only because of Jacob Bethell’s injury. He may find himself out of the side when England begin a tri-series in Pakistan on 20 October, a tournament that also involves Sri Lanka.
Why it matters
England’s summer has been a tumultuous one, marked by off-field issues, the end of Bazball, Ben Stokes’ retirement, and Root’s surprise return as Test captain. To finish it with a 223-run thumping and a fifth successive series win — across all formats — gives the ODI side momentum heading into a winter of series in Pakistan, Australia, and South Africa, and on toward next year’s World Cup.
Banton’s journey from prodigy to nearly forgotten and back again is also a reminder of the thin line between talent and delivery in international cricket, and of the patience required from selectors backing a player through a reset.
What happens next
England will now look ahead to the tri-series in Pakistan in October, where they will face Sri Lanka again and a Pakistan side keen to build on their own recent form. Whether Banton holds his opening slot or hands it back when Bethell returns is an open question — but the batter himself will have no complaints about the platform he has now built.
Source: BBC Sport, 27 September 2026. Reporting by Matthew Henry at The Oval.
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