Joe Root is looking forward to picking the brains of Trent Rockets' Head Coach Stephen Fleming when the pair unite at Trent Bridge for The Hundred next summer.

The England Test captain has had limited experience of the global limited-overs circuit, with a spell at Sydney Thunder his only overseas T20 stint alongside his commitments for Yorkshire and the national side.

Root feels his game will benefit from the chance to play alongside some of global cricket’s most talented performers.

“I’m delighted to be involved in it,” he said of The Hundred.

“There will be opportunities to learn, develop, and pick the brains of the other guys (in the Trent Rockets set up).

“I’ve heard brilliant things from the guys who’ve worked with Stephen Fleming before – Ben (Stokes) has worked with him, as have a number of others.

“They’ve all said the way he goes about things is very relaxed and calm, and that he’s got good philosophies.

“When so many big players warm to someone like that it’s obvious he has great qualities. And his record speaks for itself.”

Fleming is one of eight men entrusted with leading one of the new city-based sides, alongside the likes of Shane Warne, Mahela Jayawardene and Darren Lehmann.

It is a coaching roster which Root feels can only enhance the new competition.

“When you’re sat in that room at the draft with all those head coaches, you realise it’s an impressive room of people – and that’s when it hits home how high the standard of this tournament is going to be,” he said.

“You look at the players that have come out in the draft as well, and the standard is going to be right up there.

“It’ll give a platform for players to showcase their skills and go around the world in other tournaments. To give those guys this opportunity is great, and it’s a good time for it ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.”

Root will be joined at Trent Rockets by Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, after the world’s leading T20I bowler was first pick in the draft – a move the Yorkshireman admits he would also have made.

“He would have been my first pick. We had a chat with a few of the other guys beforehand and a lot of the same names came up amongst us – and mystery spin was certainly very popular.

“I’ve played against Rashid and I know he’s a fierce competitor and one of the best players in the world – so I have no doubt the competition will really heat up as we go head-to-head with the other teams. It’s going to be a really exciting summer.”

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