TOM Banton has signed a new contract which will see him play white ball cricket for Somerset until at least the end of the 2028 season.

The former King’s College student made his debut in July, 2017, and has played 160 matches for the county across all formats, scoring over 5850 runs.

After establishing himself as one of the domestic game’s most destructive batters, Tom was handed his full International T20 debut against New Zealand at Nelson in November 2019.

He has represented his country in 35 IT20s, scoring 696 runs at a strike rate of 150.32. His ODI debut came in February 2020 at Cape Town, and he has played a further six matches in the format for his country.

The 27-year-old has also gained a global reputation after successful appearances in competitions such as the IPL, BBL, ILT10 and PSL.

Banton said: “I’m delighted to have extended my stay with Somerset although this has been a difficult decision because red ball cricket has played a huge part in helping me develop my game, and some of my best memories have come in the County Championship.

“The win over Surrey at home a few years ago was so enjoyable, and achieving the club’s highest First-Class score is something I’m really proud of. My decision has come after a lot of open and amicable discussions with Andy Hurry and Jason Kerr over a considerable period of time.

“Given the demands and challenges of playing in and moving between all formats, I believe that focusing on white-ball cricket is the right approach for me at this stage of my career.

“I love playing for Somerset and I am very grateful for all the support I’ve received from the club and the fans in my career and I’m looking forward to hopefully putting in some good performances in the years ahead.”