Joe Root is eagerly anticipating the chance to call Trent Bridge home next summer, after the England Test captain was selected by Trent Rockets as their England red-ball contracted player.
Root was chosen by the Nottingham-based outfit for The Hundred, and is set to turn out alongside Outlaws Alex Hales and Harry Gurney.
Meanwhile, England stars Katherine Brunt and Nat Sciver have been confirmed as the first players for the Trent Rockets women’s outfit, who will play at Trent Bridge, the Pattonair County Ground in Derby and the Fischer County Ground in Leicester.
“I love playing at the ground,” said Root.
“It’s one of my favourite Test venues, and it’s a great venue to be involved in.
“The wicket is fantastic, there are small boundaries, and a nice place to go and score some runs.
"Obviously I have been associated with Yorkshire and that part of the world for a long period of time, but I have big connections with Nottingham too.
“My dad played there as a Colt and in the junior teams and second team and I've always loved playing there too.
“It’s come together nicely in many ways, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Root will be joined at Trent Rockets by his international team-mate Stuart Broad, who will work with the side in a mentoring capacity.
And the 28-year-old is excited to see which heavyweights will be picked up by coach Stephen Fleming in the men’s draft on 20 October.
”We’re lucky to have Broady as a mentor, which is going to be interesting,” he said.
“There’s some big names set to be in the draft as well – the likes of Kane Williamson, Mitchell Starc, and Steve Smith – I’m sure there’ll be a few after them.
“When you’ve got great players like that, you’re pretty much guaranteed exciting cricket.
“With the likes of those coming over, added to some very exciting English players that are already involved, it’s going to make for a great tournament I’m sure.”
In Fleming, the Rockets have recruited a coach with limited-overs pedigree, with the Kiwi having secured three IPL titles at the helm of Chennai Super Kings.
The 46-year-old has also forged a formidable reputation in the English game, having skippered Notts to their first County Championship title for 18 years in 2005.
And Root feels the chance to work alongside Fleming, as well as the tournament’s other leading stars, can only be beneficial.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn, grow and develop as players,” he said.
“Having more overseas players to work with and play against, along with the best English players, is going to result in a fascinating tournament.
“Strategy will to come into it – having to think slightly differently under pressure and go to different things – so this could really add to people’s games and change the way we look at certain aspects of the game.
“I’m really interested to see how it all unfolds and to get playing.”
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