Follow UsThe Hundred 2025 clash between Birmingham Phoenix and Trent Rockets on August 8 (Friday) was witness to an extraordinary moment as Joe Root got clean bowled by Tim Southee, who was his bowling coach only a week back while he was still donning the England colours.
Representing the Trent Rockets, Root opened the batting alongside Tom Banton and got an early boundary away off the bowling of Trent Boult. The right-hander got bogged down after that, though, and found himself 6 off 9 balls at one point.
Root’s eyes lit up when Southee was introduced into the attack, and as the New Zealander sent down a length ball, the England legend tried to slog it through the on-side. However, the worst-case scenario came to fruition for the 34-year-old as Southee ended up disturbing the timber.
As a result, Root had to depart for 6 off 10 balls, but it didn’t matter too much as his side eventually registered a comfortable six-wicket win, with Banton (43) top-scoring for the side.
Southee was roped in by England as a temporary bowling consultant for the recently concluded home summer. He began his stint with the one-off Test against Zimbabwe and was there right till the end of the India series. It remains to be seen whether Brendon McCullum will push for Southee to be appointed the permanent full-time bowling coach of the Three Lions.