England No.4 role "unnatural" to Tom Banton but batsman vows to adapt as he looks to earn his place

Having caught the eye as a destructive opening batsman for Somerset, and been identified as a potential finisher in the mould of Jos Buttler by the England management, being asked to anchor the innings in the middle order is a new mission

Tom Banton knows he will need to add flexibility to his game if he is to break into England's white-ball side on a regular basis, and that means learning how to cope with an "unnatural" role in the middle order.

Banton has been used at No.4 during the ongoing ODI series against Ireland in Southampton, a position he has never previously filled in his brief, explosive limited-overs career.

Having caught the eye as a destructive opening batsman for Somerset, and been identified as a potential finisher in the mould of Jos Buttler by the England management, being asked to anchor the innings is a new mission for the 21-year-old.

So far, he has not managed to produce an innings of note - scores of 11 and 15 against Ireland have come at a much slower pace than typical Banton knocks - as he gets used to the different responsibilities that come with the position. 

He has looked less than comfortable, and after a winter during which he experienced a degree of burnout, the dynamic young batsman is longing for a score. 

"I’m not going to lie, it does feel unnatural at the moment. It’s about giving myself a chance because I know I can catch up. If I’m in for 40, 50 balls, I back myself to catch up," Banton said ahead of the third and final match of the series at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday.

"Seeing the scoreboard, I’m usually quite an aggressive player and my strike rate seems to be around 100, and then seeing that is sometimes a bit tricky. It’s probably rotating the strike more coming in and when there is a bad ball putting it away. But I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself, it’s the first few times I’ve batted there so I’m not expecting too much."

^{Tom Banton has found life tough at No.4}

Banton's chances of establishing himself at the top of the England order in both 20 and 50-over cricket are limited, and to do so he will have to break past the partnership of Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy. Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone and Buttler are also options in the shortest format, while Alex Hales remains in international exile. 

England are not at full strength for the Ireland series, and Buttler, Joe Root and Ben Stokes would typically join captain Eoin Morgan in the middle order, meaning Banton will remain one for the future for some time to come.

With the wealth of talent available to Morgan, Banton is having to get used to being shunted around the batting order.

However, he knows that to be in with the best possible chance of becoming an England regular, he will have to adapt.

"I’ve never batted there [No.4] at all. I’ve always seemed to be at the top of the order. In red-ball last year I batted four, five, six, whatever, and obviously it’s different, you’ve got a lot more time, all the fielders are in," he said.

"I’ve spoken to a few guys and they’ve told me a few things to try and take into my game. I’m getting used to it, trying to find the right tempo. A score there would probably give me a bit of confidence and that’ll feel good but I’m just waiting for that at the moment. 

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"It’s probably something I’m going to have to get used to if I’m going to. I have been trying to work on it in the nets, but the nets are pretty difficult at the moment. It’s something I’ve got to work on if I want to play more for England. I’m working quite closely with [Marcus] Trescothick which has been good – we’ve come up with a few things which hopefully I can try tomorrow."

Somerset fans will be thankful that he has no intention of shifting his position back at his county.

"It’s a hard one. I love opening so I’ll probably carry on doing that," he says. "It’s tricky, if I do want to play I’m probably going to slide in at 6 realistically. I don’t know what to say. I’ll probably have to carry on opening."

Banton is hardly the only batsman to struggle during the Ireland series so far. With the exception of Sam Billings and Jonny Bairstow, none of England's top order have mastered the surface at the Ageas Bowl, which Banton described as "a bit slow" and "a bit wet", while the Irish have been reliant on newcomer Curtis Campher for runs.

"I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself, just go out there and enjoy it," Banton said. "Playing for England is a dream come true, whether this is my last game for England forever, I’m just going to try and enjoy it as much as possible."

Campher has claimed Banton's wicket in both matches so far, but that is not bothering the England man ahead of the final game of the series, in which England already have an unassailable lead.

"Every bowler gets a batter out a few times. He has, I’m not going to hide behind it. I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and backing the things I’ve done well. Hopefully tomorrow I get the better of him if I play. I’m not going to put too much pressure on myself."

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