Billy Root says that having the opportunity to work with interim head coach Matthew Maynard was a “massive” factor in the 26-year-old’s winter switch from Nottinghamshire to Glamorgan.
The promising left-handed batsman signed a two-year deal and Glamorgan will be looking to him, along with fellow newcomers Marnus Labuschagne and Charlie Hemphrey, to bolster the top-order.
“I think Matt’s a really good batting coach as well as a really good man, so it’s great to pick his brains about batting, but also the dynamic he has with Wally [Director of Cricket Mark Wallace] is really good, so I think it’s a great fit and a great place to be a player at the minute,” Root said.
Given the wealth of batting talent at Trent Bridge, both Root and Nottinghamshire felt that a move away would be the best option in order for the England captain’s younger brother to progress his career.
“I was having a conversation with a few of the staff and my family when I was at Notts, and I think it was at a time when I was needing to kick on and be involved in more games, and the way the squad was being built at Nottinghamshire wouldn’t allow that,” he said.
“So we just sort of put our heads together and decided that a move would be a good option.
“I’m absolutely loving it. It’s a really friendly place around me, especially the cricket ground, and everyone has welcomed me really well. It’s been a great move for me, and it’s been pretty smooth so far.”
Root has enjoyed immediate reward for his move on the field too after he struck an unbeaten 108 against Cardiff MCCU to rescue Glamorgan after the Welsh county were 109 for seven.
He also struck a hundred on the pre-season tour against Gloucestershire in La Manga.
Although Glamorgan have struggled in recent times, Root insists he had no doubts about crossing the bridge into Wales.
“Those things can happen in a season and a lot of the time, it goes in cycles,” he said.
“From what I’ve seen so far while I’ve been here in the winter, I can’t see a reason why that will happen again.
“There’s some serious talent and the lads have been working really hard over this winter. I can see us having a really positive year.”
As well as being afforded a fresh start on the cricket field, Root believes that Cardiff is a good fit for him as a city.
“It just seems like a really nice place to be,” he said.
“It’s just nice to be here and I’m really looking forward to putting some contributions in and to winning games of cricket for Glamorgan.”
Root is focused on helping Glamorgan make a strong start to the Specsavers County Championship, starting at home to Northamptonshire this week, before the competition takes a month-long break when the Royal London One-Day Cup takes centre stage on the domestic season.
Asked what his goals were during that period, Root said: “Short term, just putting in some good performances and making sure we can get over the line in a lot of these one-day games.
“I think winning Championship games, if you get on a roll, you can win quite a few. Once we get one win, I think we can go really well and get up that table.”
Written by the ECB's reporter network.
Read more at https://www.glamorgancricket.com/cricket/news/2019/april/im-really-looking-forward-to-putting-some-contributions-in-root.html#s9tL5AGxacFcZdut.99