NEW signing Billy Root has praised the "dynamic" at Glamorgan under interim coach Matthew Maynard and director of cricket Mark Wallace.
Root, the brother of England captain Joe, marked his championship debut with an unbeaten 126 against Northamptonshire on the second day of the division two clash at Sophia Gardens.
Brother Joe fell just short of scoring a second successive county championship century for Yorkshire.
Younger brother Billy has revealed the opportunity to work with former England player and experienced coach Maynard was a "massive" factor in his winter switch from Nottinghamshire to Glamorgan.
The promising left-handed batsman signed a two-year deal and Glamorgan and the 26-year-old has praised the atmosphere created by former county stalwarts Maynard and Wallace, from Crickhowell.
“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.”
On the evidence of his debut, which by close of play Thursday has seen Glamorgan reach 433 for 4, Root has made the right decision in joining the Welsh side.
He and fellow newcomer Marnus Labuschagne, together with Kiran Carlson, held centre stage with Australian test player Labuschagne scoring 121 and Carlson undefeated on 101.
When Root reached three figures, it was the first time in Glamorgan’s history for two players on debut to score a century in the same game, with Root becoming the 13th batsman to do so.
Root and brother Joe have started the season in encouraging form, and while the England captain was scoring 94 at the Ageas Bowl, his younger brother completed a splendid century from 150 balls. He required a further six runs to equal his previous championship best 132, scored against Sussex two years ago.After resuming on 433 for 4 on Friday morning, Wayne Procter dismissed Billy Root with the fourth ball of the morning, when the debutant drove to Vasconelos at deep gully. Root and Kiran Carlson had put on 172 for the fifth wicket, and shortly afterwards Carlson departed for 111.
Glamorgan have struggled in recent times but Root insisted he had no doubts about coming to 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.”
Following the game against Northants the Specsavers County Championship takes a month-long break when the Royal London One-Day Cup takes centre stage on the domestic season.At lunch on Friday, Glamorgan had advanced their first innings score to 570 for 8 with the declaration imminent, and Northants needing in excess of 400 to avoid the follow on.