Three England youngsters aiming to impress in the Twenty20 series in New Zealand

Several members of England’s World Cup squad, including Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root, Jason Roy and Moeen Ali, have been rested for the T20 series in New Zealand, offering an opportunity to some uncapped players.

Here are three youngsters aiming to catch the eye before next year’s T20 World Cup:

Tom Banton

T20 record 591 runs in 16 innings; average 39.4, strike-rate 154.3

Only Pakistan superstar Babar Azam scored more runs in the T20 Blast than Banton’s 549 as the Somerset youngster – tipped at 40-1 by Racing Post Sport – landed the place money with ease.

Banton had already played a key role in Somerset’s One-Day Cup triumph, scoring 112, 59 and 69 in three knockout innings.

Opening the batting and keeping wicket in white-ball cricket was a heavy burden for the 20-year-old but he responded brilliantly.

His long-levered power, exquisite timing, and ability to score all round the wicket prompted comparisons with Alex Hales, Jos Buttler and even Kevin Pietersen.

This series will be a step up in class – Banton mEngland ade 11 and six in two warm-up games in Lincoln – and are hardly short of options at the top of the batting order but the Taunton tyro looks a very special talent.

Pat Brown

T20 record 49 wickets in 36 matches; economy rate 8.15, strike-rate 14.4

Worcestershire were shock winners of the 2018 Blast and Brown played a huge part in that success, finishing as the tournament’s leading bowler with 31 wickets.

Barely out of his teens, he looked a natural T20 death bowler: calm under pressure and confident in his range of artfully-delivered slower balls.

Notts looked home and hosed in the Blast semi-final this year before Brown bowled the 19th over, yielding three wickets for just four runs, and it will be fascinating to see his skills on the international stage.

Matt Parkinson

T20 record 60 wickets in 36 matches; economy rate 7.06, strike-rate 12.9

England aren’t overwhelmed by top-class leg-spinning options but Parkinson is bidding to emulate the success of Adil Rashid.

The Lancashire leggie has fine Blast pedigree, taking 25 wickets in 2018 (second only to Brown) and 21 at an average of 14.61 this year.

Parkinson’s career economy rate of 7.06 is outstanding, especially as he is often employed in an attacking role late in the innings with Lancashire.

Facing New Zealand’s power-packed batting unit at venues with short boundaries will be a test of his nerve but he is an exciting prospect.

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