IT has been a whirlwind few days for Somerset youngster Tom Banton, who can now add praise from Kevin Pietersen to his achievements having made his maiden List A century on Good Friday.

Pietersen, England's sixth highest ODI run scorer of all time, joined former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and ex-England batsman Rob Key in praising the 20-year-old after his 79-ball 107 against Kent in Taunton.

READ MORE: Banton comes of age with innings Somerset were waiting for

Key, who now works for Sky Sports, was first to comment upon the knock and wrote: "This lad's a serious player I reckon."

McCullum, New Zealand's third highest all-time run scorer across all formats, added: "Fair bit of @KP24 [Kevin Pietersen] about his game I reckon."

This garnered the attention of Pietersen, who replied: "Wowza! He can play!"

Anyone who witnessed Banton in full flow on Friday can see where the comparison between the two comes from, particularly in the form of the powerful whips through mid-wicket and inventive use of the reverse sweep.

Pietersen also used to attract criticism for the method of his dismissals, which occasionally came from attacking or unorthodox shots.

Banton admitted himself after Friday's century that "there will be times when I get out and people think 'why did he do that?'.

But, like the former England star, he admitted he "won't change the way I play."

"I just go out there and play the ball as it comes," continued Banton, who said reaching his century on Friday was "the best feeling I have had on a cricket field."

Of course, nobody should get too ahead of themselves. Banton has some way to go before being mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Pietersen, but the appraisal from such glittering cricketing stars will no doubt further boost the youngster's confidence.

Banton is part of the 13-man Somerset squad looking to maintain their winning start to the 2019 season against Sussex in Hove tomorrow (11am).

Both sides go into the match with two wins from two in the South Group, Phil Salt cracking 137 in Sussex's seven-wicket win over Kent on Sunday.

The sides haven't met since last season's Vitality Blast semi-final at Edgbaston, which Sussex won by 35 runs.

Somerset squad to face Sussex: Tom Abell (c), Tom Banton (wk), George Bartlett, Dom Bess, Jack Brooks, Josh Davey, Lewis Gregory, Tim Groenewald, James Hildreth, Craig Overton, Peter Trego and Roelof van der Merwe.

Jamie Overton took two wickets as a strong Somerset Second XI eased past Glamorgan by seven wickets at Taunton Vale today.

Youngster Kasey Aldridge claimed 3-20, with Jack Leach taking 1-8 from four overs as the visitors were bowled out for 149.

Openers Eddie Byrom (36) and Steve Davies (42) added 62 for the opening wicket before George Bartlett (33*) and Tom Lammonby (17*) saw the hosts over the line in the 27th over.

Click here for the full scorecard.