Sydney Thunder recruit Joe Root out to prove doubters wrong in Big Bash

SNUBBED by every franchise in the Indian Premier League, then dumped by his own country, England Test skipper Joe Root is ready to unleash his frustrations in the Big Bash.

SNUBBED by every franchise in the Indian Premier League, then dumped by his own country, England Test skipper Joe Root is ready to unleash his frustrations during the Big Bash League.

For reasons he still can’t fathom, Root has virtually been written off as T20 player so wants to remind everyone what he’s capable of in the shortest version of the game when he makes his BBL debut for Sydney Thunder.

In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Root said he was frustrated that people didn’t rate him as a T20 player but planned to change their minds in his first season in BBL.

Joe Root has signed with Sydney Thunder. Picture: Jenny Evans

“I’ve not actually played much at all of this format, whether it be domestically or internationally, so to get an opportunity to play a block of T20 is exciting for me because I haven’t had this opportunity before anywhere else in the world,” he said. “To do it here in Australia, as an Englishman it’s the one place you want to prove yourself, the one place you really want to perform and show everyone what you can do in this format.”

Rated among the best batsmen in the world in Tests and one-dayers, Root has played just 28 T20 internationals. He has a top score of 90 not out and averages 35.77, which is the 11th-highest of any player who had batted at least 20 times, yet he still seems to be on the nose.

He entered the IPL auction for the first time this year but didn’t attract any bidders, then was dropped a few months later from England’s T20 side.

Joe Root is primed for his Thunder debut. Picture: Jenny Evans

So when the chance came to play in the BBL, Root couldn’t sign on the dotted line quick enough, though he insists his priority is to repay Thunder for showing faith in him when no one else did.

CRYSTAL BALL: VAUGHAN, LANDSBERGER DELIVER BBL PREDICTIONS

MEGA PREVIEW: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BBL08

CONFIRMED: FINAL SQUADS FOR EVERY BBL TEAM

“Every time you play it’s a chance to prove people wrong that doubt you, but I’m here to perform for the Thunder and hopefully win the BBL this year,” he said. “That’s my main focus, not to try and prove anything to anyone else or try and get myself back into the England set-up. It’s more about doing everything I can to help this team win.”

If the Thunder’s hunch is right and Root produces in BBL, Sydney fans could be in for one helluva show — though the Englishman is coy about whether he’ll reproduce his cheeky bat-drop celebration.

Root broke with convention after he hit the winning runs to bring up his century in the deciding ODI against India, dropped his bat just as boastful rappers and comedians drop their microphones.

“We’ll have to wait and see (about a repeat),” he said.

“It could potentially happen. It would be a nice position to be in to have to make that choice. But we’ll see.”

Every Test, ODI, T20I, and BBL match live. SIGN UP NOW!