Joe Root will feature in The Hundred next summer for Trent Rockets. Even though the competition is 9 months away, the England Test skipper is relishing the prospect of plying his trade at Trent Bridge.
The Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board's new format of the game, will be a white-ball competition with 100 balls per innings - with a change of ends after 10 balls and bowlers bowling five or 10 consecutive balls.
The tournament with eight city-based franchise teams has already picked England’s centrally contracted Test players earlier this month. The main player draft will be held on October 20, with a host of international stars.
Ahead of the mega draft, Root spoke to Sky Sports and expressed his excitement for the unique event.
“I'm extremely excited. Obviously a new experience for me, playing for a new team. I've played a lot of cricket at Trent Bridge over the years, and have had a lot of fond memories there. I'm joining some fine players already established there, and a very fine coach in Stephen Fleming. I'm very much looking forward to getting going,” he said.
Apparently, 165 players from 11 different countries have registered their names for The Hundred player draft. And Root is hoping to play with likes of Steve Smith, Kane Williamson among others.
“You look at the names of the players who have already put their names forward for the draft - the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Kane Williamson - it's guys who have already been extremely successful in franchise cricket around the world and international cricket. I've played with Starc and Williamson before at Yorkshire, so I'd like to see those guys with us, they'd both be very good signings,” the England Test captain added.
Asked which English teammates on other teams he wants to triumph over, Root said: “Jofra Archer. He thinks it's funny to bowl bouncers at me off 10 yards, so it would be nice to get a few away off him!”
Joe Root also expects The Hundred to be a big global success like T20 leagues in years to come.
“Since Kerry Packer and the World Series, whenever there has been change, there have been question marks around it, how it will work and whether it will improve the game. Generally, those changes have been for the better and this is another opportunity to grow the game, look at attracting a new audience and expand the game in this country. Add to what we already have, not look to necessarily change or improve it. Looking at the people who are going to be involved in this tournament, the quality is going to be there, so there is no reason why it can't work,” he remarked.
