Tom Banton has extended his stay with Somerset until at least the end of the 2028 season after signing a new contract. But it comes on the back of a huge career decision for ham, with the announced England batter stepping away from first-class cricket in the immediate future to focus solely on white-ball formats.
The wicketkeeper-batter, 27, also came through the Somerset academy system and has spent his entire professional career with the county. Through the years he has established himself as one of English cricket’s most recognisable white-ball players featuring in various franchise tournaments across the globe including the IPL, BBL, Hundred and Pakistan Super League.
The deal for Banton indicates his intention to focus on limited-overs cricket, where he has had by far the most success. He has also played county cricket for Somerset however, he will no longer be available to appear in County Championship matches under the contract. The shift enables him to focus on T20 and one-day tournaments at the national and perhaps international level.
This is an important step in Banton’s cricketing journey. He aspired to live up to his multi-format player dreams earlier in his career and had also turned in very good displays with the red ball. Perhaps his greatest achievement was during the 2025 County Championship season when he scored a world record-breaking triple century for Somerset and became the county’s highest individual first-class scorer.
Banton has not phased out completely from first-class cricket for Somerset. Club officials consider him one of their most exciting players and expect his experience and attacking style to further bolster their white-ball squads. His extended faith is also viewed as a good omen for the county’s desires in one-day contests.
The new contract offers Banton clarity over his future while facilitating a focus on the format that sits best with his game. He will now look to make an even greater mark on white-ball cricket over the next few years, while still featuring for Somerset with a contract that extends as far into the future as 2028.
