Joe Root and Jos Buttler agree Sydney Thunder stint in Big Bash League

Sport360 staff 13:55 24/08/2018
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  • The two Englishmen will turn out for Sydney Thunder.

    England Test skipper Joe Root and batsman Jos Buttler have been provided No Objection Certificates by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to participate in the next edition of the Big Bash League (BBL).

    The England duo have signed for BBL franchise Sydney Thunder and will be made available for the first half of the competition which gets underway in December.

    This will be Root’s maiden appearance in a T20 league outside England while Buttler is already part of various leagues like the IPL. Root had also thrown his hat in the ring in the IPL auction at the start of the year but failed to find any takers for his signature.

    The England Test skipper has been on record previously wanting to improve his T20 record as he bids to make the squad for the 2020 World Twenty20 to be held in Australia.

    “I want to gain as much experience as possible in T20 cricket. It’s one of those tournaments where you want to be involved in it and I’m really excited to get that opportunity now with Sydney,” Root said recently.

    “I’m sure there will be some mixed emotions for the fans, but hopefully I can win them over through the time there. There’s an opportunity for myself now to put in some strong performances and help Sydney Thunder go on and do some special things this year,” he added.

    Buttler, meanwhile, will be turning out for the Sydney franchise for the second successive year.

    “I loved my time there, there’s a great atmosphere in the group. There’s a lot of young guys but some experience in there as well, including Shane Watson, who I really got to enjoy getting to know and playing under his captaincy,” Buttler said.

    The two England stars will play in the first half of the tournament in Australia before returning to join up with the England squad for the tour of West Indies at the start of 2019.

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