Billy Root (cricketer)

William Thomas Root (born 5 August 1992) is an English cricketer who plays for Glamorgan. Primarily a left-handed batsman, he also bowls right-arm off break. He is the brother of former England Test Captain Joe Root.

Billy Root

Personal information
Full name	William Thomas Root
Born	(1992-08-05) 5 August 1992 (age 32) Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
Relations	Joe Root (brother)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2015–2018	Nottinghamshire (squad no. 66)
2015–2016	Leeds/Bradford MCCU
2019–present	Glamorgan (squad no. 7)
FC debut	2 April 2015 Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Sussex
LA debut	27 April 2017 Nottinghamshire v Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20 Matches 78 55 50 Runs scored 4,023 1,604 634 Batting average 33.80 43.35 21.13 100s/50s 7/17 3/8 0/0 Top score 229 113* 41* Balls bowled 389 292 18 Wickets 8 6 0 Bowling average 34.37 51.66 – 5 wickets in innings 0 0 – 10 wickets in match 0 0 – Best bowling 3/29 2/36 – Catches/stumpings 23/– 13/– 18/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 28 September 2024

Early life

Root is the youngest son of Helen and Matt Root and grew up in Dore, Sheffield.^[1] He is the younger brother of Yorkshire and former England Test captain Joe Root. He attended King Ecgbert School in Sheffield and Worksop College as a weekly boarder.

Root and his brother played under-11s cricket for Rotherham Town CC and then, like their father, joined Sheffield Collegiate CC in Abbeydale Park, Sheffield. Former Yorkshire batsman and England captain Michael Vaughan also learnt his trade at Collegiate and was a source of inspiration for both Root brothers. Both brothers support Sheffield United F.C.^[2]

Cricket career

Root made his List A debut for Nottinghamshire in the 2017 Royal London One-Day Cup on 27 April 2017.^[3] He once appeared as a substitute fielder for the England cricket team. Opportunities at Nottinghamshire were limited for Root, however he did top the club averages in T20 cricket in the 2017 season, as well as making a crucial century in the final Championship game of the season at Hove, coming in at 55–4 to help force a vital draw.

Glamorgan

At the end of the 2018 season Root left Nottinghamshire to join Glamorgan on a two-year contract.^[4] Root made his County Championship debut for Glamorgan against Northamptonshire in April 2019, scoring 126 in the first innings.^[5] In May 2019, Root was suspended from bowling by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) due to a suspect action.^[6] On August 23, 2019, Root was cleared to bowl again.^[7] In June 2019, Root scored his maiden first-class double hundred in a championship game against Northants, posting 229 in the first innings.^[8] Root ended his first season at Glamorgan with 768 runs in the County Championship and 386 runs at an average of 64.33 in the Royal London One Day Cup, making him the club's highest scorer in the competition.

During the shortened 2020 season, Root completed a fifth first-class century, making 118 against Worcestershire.

The 2021 season began with Root facing elder brother Joe in a first-class game for the first time ever as Glamorgan opened their season away to Yorkshire. Fittingly, in the second innings, Root pushed a ball from his brother into the leg side for two to reach his 6th first-class hundred.^[9]

Root signed a new one-year contract with Glamorgan in December 2024.^[10]

References

1. Joe Root: Man of Steel – Features | Welcome to Yorkshire Archived 6 September 2018 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 March 2018.
2. Drury, Sam (3 July 2017). "Joe Root: Captaining England will drive me forward as a batsman". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
3. "Royal London One-Day Cup, North Group: Worcestershire v Nottinghamshire at Worcester, Apr 27, 2017". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
4. "Billy Root: Brother of England captain Joe signs for Glamorgan". BBC Sport. 9 October 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
5. "County Championship: Labuschagne, Root & Carlson put Glamorgan in charge". BBC Sport. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
6. "Billy Root: Glamorgan all-rounder suspended from bowling". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
7. "Billy Root cleared to resume bowling in county cricket after passing independent review". 30 August 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
8. "County Championship: Billy Root career-best puts Glamorgan in control". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
9. "Watch: Billy Root brings up first hundred of season off grimacing brother Joe". Wisden. Retrieved 12 April 2011.
10. "Batter Root commits to Glamorgan for 2025". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

External links

• Billy Root at ESPNcricinfo