Tom Banton, the England wicketkeeper-batsman, has revealed the ‘hockey’ technique which enables him to hit the reverse-scoop with ease.
Banton was acquired by the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders following impressive outings in the 2019 editions of the T20 Blast and Big Bash League. While he finished the second-highest run-scorer in the 2019/20 T20 Blast – 549 runs in 13 matches at a strike-rate of 161.47 – he had the highest strike-rate (176.98) among batsmen who played more than one innings in the 2019 BBL.
The reverse-scoop is one of the many audacious strokes in Banton’s arsenal, and he has picked it from his time playing hockey – the 21-year-old was a drag-flicker and “used to play reverse quite often”. He also recalled the time he hit fellow Englishman, Sam Curran, for a reverse swat while playing for Somerset last year.
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“I guess it probably comes from playing hockey,” Banton told KKR’s official website. “I was a drag flicker and used to play reverse there quite often. My dad used to play hockey and I kind of followed his footsteps. I played hockey from the age of 3 till about 17. I was 16 years old, when things were getting more serious and I had to pick one sport and that’s when I chose cricket.
Remember that time Tom Banton played a reverse sweep off a fast bowler from the third ball of the match.
Yeah that was wild #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/QEB61Qno2t
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 6, 2020
“Talking about the six, it was actually quite funny because Sam (Curran) came up to me after that ball and said something. I can’t tell you what. But yeah, I have spent a lot of time with him, so, it was a funny moment.”
Banton also opened up on his comparisons with Kevin Pietersen. “I don’t think too much of it to be honest,” he said. “Obviously, he is one of the greatest players to have played from England. I have watched him while growing up and he was definitely an idol of mine. But honestly, I don’t like to think so much, otherwise you get too far ahead of yourself.”
