JOE ROOT wants his forthcoming spell with Sydney Thunder to be win-win.

The team player that the Yorkshire star is means his number one priority will be making sure the Thunder enjoy a successful Big Bash.

But the England Test captain is also keen to develop his own game as a T20 player ahead of World T20 in Australia in late 2020.

Root on Friday agreed a contract extension with the White Rose until the end of 2022, and he now heads down under for a seven-game stint in the Harbour City prior to England’s New Year tour of the West Indies.

It will be his first taste of life as an overseas player in a foreign league.

“To get the opportunity to play some Twenty20 cricket, a block of that format, is very rare for me,” said the 27-year-old, who has only made 61 career appearances since debuting for the White Rose in mid-2011.

“With the amount of international cricket around - a World Cup and an Ashes this summer for example - the games I’ve been rested for in the past have been Twenty20.

“It’s felt that over a period of time, I’ve had limited opportunities to play.

“I saw a small window in the calendar where I have a chance to get a string of games together to make sure I’m learning, developing and improving in that format.

“I’m very excited to be involved with Sydney Thunder.

“They’re a fantastic franchise and have some wonderful players. And the Big Bash looks a brilliant tournament.

“I’m really thrilled to be a part of that.

“To get the opportunity to go and spend a month or so out there in Sydney and enjoy the different pressures of being an overseas player.

“I’ll give everything I can for them.I really want to make an impact and see them have a successful season.

“There’s a lot of positives around it.

“There’s obviously a World Cup in Australia in a year our so’s time. Having some experience of playing in those conditions and on those surfaces - if selected - will definitely help me and hold me in good stead.

“I love all three formats, and to go out there and play is going to be great fun.”

Root has experienced a lot in his pro career, despite not yet reaching 30 years of age. But an overseas domestic stint is a new one for the Sheffield ace.

“I think it’s a great chance to evolve as a player,” he said.

“You look at some of the guys who go to the Big Bash, and from those experiences they grow. They come back into the international set-up and you can see the way they look at the game is slightly different.

“It adds to their thinking and gives them some form of advantage in many different ways.”

Root will debut against the Melbourne Stars, for whom Liam Plunkett has just signed, on December 21 and will come up against Jason Gillespie’s Adelaide Strikers and David Willey’s Perth Scorchers.

The Thunder also have a strong English influence within their ranks.

Jos Buttler is their other overseas, while former Essex wicketkeeper James Foster is part of their coaching staff.

“It’s a great bonus they’re going to be there,” said Root.

“I worked a bit with Fozzy in the summer. He came and did some work with the Test side, and he’s a great thinker about the game.

“In terms of Jos, he’s obviously vice-captain of the Test team and has had a wonderful summer across all three formats. He loves to play that format.

“It’s always nice to have the connection from within.”

And more familiar faces will be on hand for Root, with Yorkshire trio Harry Brook, Jordan Thompson and Matthew Waite all playing grade cricket in Sydney.

He added: “I’ll definitely try and catch up at some point. I’m sure they’ll be enjoying playing some hard cricket over there and getting themselves ready for the start of the summer.

“It’s going to be an exciting adventure to be to involved in.”