FORMER Barnt Green skipper Andy Sutton has spoke of the club's pride after Tom Banton made his England debut this week.

Banton, who came through the ranks at Green and made his first team debut aged just 14, was selected to open the batting in England's third T20 clash with New Zealand in Nelson on Tuesday.

The Somerset player, 20, made 18 before being bowled by Blair Tickner as England fell to a 14-run defeat.

Former Bromsgrove School pupil Banton got his chance with the national team following eye-catching showings as he became the leading English run-scorer in this year’s T20 Vitality Blast competition.

His younger brother Jacques played for Barnt Green last season and his dad Colin is a former chairman.

His former captain Andy Sutton hopes Tom's grounding at Green has played a small part in his success.

He said: "I first met Tom when he came into the side as a 14-year-old wicketkeeper/batsman, so he played at a good level from a very early age and it was clear that he was a serious talent.

"He was a confident lad and tried all the shots that you see him playing now for Somerset.

"Like all young cricketers, he had his ups and downs with the game as he tried different levels and looked to find his feet, but he learned from that and really progressed as a cricketer.

"He's very much a Barnt Green lad. His dad was chairman when I was captain and his brother plays for the first team now. His family live in the village and he still comes back at the end of the season to see everyone and certainly knows his roots.

"As a club we are all extremely proud that he has gone on to play for England.

"It's been fantastic seeing him as a young kid in the first team and I hope we played just a little part to help him get to where he is now. If we did that then we are all very proud of that, like we are with the other professionals we have had in Ed Pollock and Matt Lamb.

"Tom has had a meteoric rise since doing so well for Somerset last season. He's now playing for England but also getting selected for the Big Bash and the T10 league, as well as being chosen as an icon in the new Hundred competition.

"Hopefully he can learn from all this experience and continue to progress. I have every faith that he'll be able to take his chance with England."