Michael Vaughan has a mad Tom Banton plan that makes absolutely no sense

Michael Vaughan is one of life’s great disappointments, and his latest madcap plan for England’s Test team continues the depressing fall from grace for the garlanded captain of the 2005 Ashes heroes.
After years of shambling about, England’s Test top six finally looked the part for one whole match at Port Elizabeth. Vaughan’s plan, therefore, is to rip that all up and start again for no real reason, in the process simultaneously buggering about with the careers of England’s two most exciting young batting talents. Again, for no real reason.
The plan, and typing it out only makes it seem even madder, is for Ollie Pope, having just made a stunning 135 not out at number six, to move up to number three because reasons. It’s great fodder for the Ian Bell comparisons, but really has little else going for it.
The next part of the plan, though, is even madder. Having created a vacancy at number six – again, and we can’t stress this enough, for absolutely no reason whatsoever – Vaughan’s wheeze is for that spot to be filled by Tom Banton because if there’s one thing we’ve learned in the last year or so it’s that chucking white-ball superstars into England’s Test line-up always definitely works.
To facilitate this move, Vaughan proposes Banton, who has been smashing it around in the BBL, has already played T20I cricket for England, and is currently approximately four million miles from the Test team, gives up his IPL gig in a T20 World Cup year in order to play county cricket in April and May when, famously, batting in the County Championship is always absolutely great fun and the runs flow like attention-seeking bullshit from a former England captain.
Test team discover winning formula with batting to build a platform. Vaughan: "Nah, what this Test team needs is more T20 stars". https://t.co/ei89rEKasX
— Pitched Up Cricket (@PitchingItUp) January 21, 2020
Banton’s first-class average is 27 from 12 games with a high score of 79, but Vaughan – inevitably – sees a bit of Kevin Pietersen in him.
“If I were in charge I would be on the phone this week to Tom Banton telling him to give up his IPL deal and play the first few weeks of the county season for Somerset because there is a slot available at No 6 in the Test side,” Vaughan writes in his Daily Telegraph column.
“Ollie Pope is not going to stay there forever. He is going to move up. Root and Stokes are rock solid at four and five. Joe Denly has done OK but is OK good enough when you have a Pope at six who will clearly be England’s No 3 by the time they go to Australia again?
“I have seen enough of Banton to know he is a superstar in the making. I’m not sure a stint in the IPL right now, when he might not get a lot of game time, is what he needs at this stage of his career. The IPL can wait. He has plenty of time to go to India.
“He needs to play four-day cricket and score some early hundreds. If he does that I could see him batting at No 6 in the Test side this summer. It is possible.”
We’re going to firmly nail our colours to the mast here: it is not possible.
Latest
-
News
Michael Vaughan ‘steps back’ from BBC work after staff raise concerns
The former England captain had recently returned to Test Match Special coverage.
-
News
Simon Harmer bowls Essex to thrilling win while Surrey dominate Kent
Spinner Harmer took 15 wickets in the match as his side held off Hampshire by 12 runs.
-
News
Sciver stars and Davidson-Richards makes history – day two in the women’s Test
The England pair’s maiden Test centuries took their side past South Africa’s total at Taunton.
-
News
Alice Davidson-Richards savours debut century as England take upper hand
The all-rounder joined only WG Grace with a hundred and a wicket on Test debut for England.
-
News
Sciver and Davidson-Richards hit maiden Test centuries to put England on top
The home side had struggled to 121 for five before the pair began their rescue act.
-
News
Eoin Morgan – On leadership, that Lord’s final and letting go
Morgan has announced his international retirement.
-
News
Eoin Morgan steps away rather than feel ‘like an imposter’ for England
The World Cup-winning captain has struggled for form and fitness in recent months.
-
News
Eoin Morgan leaves lasting legacy after transforming England’s white-ball sides
The 35-year-old has called time on his international career on Tuesday.
-
News
Sixes, centuries and celebrations – Eoin Morgan’s England career in pictures
Morgan transformed England’s one-day side from also-rans to world champions.
-
News
The key moments in Eoin Morgan’s reign as England captain
Morgan’s time as skipper culminated in World Cup glory in 2019.