England's Joe Root set for Big Bash League debut with Sydney Thunder

Sport360 staff 11:35 14/07/2018
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  • Root will reportedly line up for Sydney Thunder in the BBL.

    Joe Root might have seen himself dropped for the final T20 between England and India but the top-order batsman has now reportedly sealed a deal to sign with Big Bash League (BBL) outfit Sydney Thunder.

    According to a report by the Telegraph, the England Test skipper will undertake a maiden stint in Australia’s T20 league with his signing set to be announced next month. Root will be joined by his England team-mate Jos Buttler who has been with the Thunder since 2017.

    The BBL is expected to get underway this December with the schedule set to be announced next week.

    Root, who has spoken about his need for playing T20 cricket, went unsold during the IPL auction earlier this year despite throwing his hat in the ring for the first time.

    After being dropped for Ben Stokes in the deciding T20 at Bristol, Root had spoken about his lack of opportunities in the format.

    Root has recently spoken about his lack opportunities in T20s.

    Root has recently spoken about his lack opportunities in T20s.

    “Until there’s a really good block for me to go and play T20 cricket somewhere in a domestic tournament, it’s going to be hard to get a string of games to put that case across,” he said.

    “I’m fully confident in the ability I have in that format.

    “I can perform in T20 cricket. I don’t see it as a closed door for me, but I have to make sure, in the limited opportunities I have, to keep performing.”

    The 27-year-old has played 28 T20Is for England and has scored 787 runs at an average of 35.77 and a strike-rate of over 128. Most importantly, Root has played only 11 T20Is since the final of the World Twenty20 in 2016.

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