England's young batsman, Tom Banton, who went unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction, has played a historic innings in the County Championship. Playing for Somerset, he smashed a triple century against Worcestershire, breaking a 19-year-old record.
Sports News: While the 26-year-old English batsman, Tom Banton, participated in the IPL 2025 mega auction, he remained unsold. His base price was ₹2 crore, which may have seemed high to several franchises. However, despite missing out on the IPL, Banton has captured everyone's attention with his performance. Currently playing for Somerset in the County Championship, England's domestic cricket competition, he is in exceptional form.
Missed IPL Opportunity, Domestic Cricket Domination
Tom Banton registered for the IPL 2025 auction with a base price of ₹2 crore. However, he was not purchased by any franchise. Following this, Banton showcased his talent in domestic cricket, delivering a stellar performance in the County Championship. Playing for Somerset, he scored 344 runs off 383 balls, including 54 fours and 1 six. This innings is the highest of his career and the highest ever scored by any Somerset batsman.
Justin Langer's Record Broken
Banton surpassed Australian legend Justin Langer's record of 342 runs, set in 2006 against Surrey. Banton's 344 runs now constitute the highest individual score in first-class cricket for Somerset. Interestingly, Justin Langer is currently the coach of the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants.
Worcestershire, batting first, was bowled out for a mere 154 runs. In response, Somerset, fueled by Tom Banton's 344 and James Rew's 152, amassed 637 runs and are still batting. The 26-year-old Tom Banton has played 7 ODIs and 14 T20 Internationals for England. He has scored 172 runs in ODIs and 327 runs in T20Is. However, he hasn't secured a permanent place in the England national team in recent years.
