If you weren't already jumping with excitement for this year's Big Bash League, then you will be now.

England's captain Joe Root and star wicket-keeper Jos Butler have signed on for BBL 08 with the Sydney Thunder.





While the English skipper is a huge name for the Aussie T20 competition and the Big Bash League will also be his first T20 competition outside of England, Butler is arguably one of the most damaging batsmen in the world currently.

In the recent ODI series when Australia travelled to England and were completely dusted 5-0, our bowlers only managed to dismiss Butler twice. He scored 275 runs, averaged 137.50 and went along at a strike rate of 112. He also scored 61 off 30 deliveries in the sole T20I, which Australia also lost.

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Both Root and Butler will play in the early stages of BBL 08 but will have to leave early when international duties take precedent and England travel to the Caribbean.

"Everyone you speak to that has played in the Big Bash finds it a really interesting tournament and watching it you can see that," Root told reporters on Friday.

"You want to be involved in it and I'm really excited to get that opportunity with Sydney Thunder."

Butler played in BBL 07 with the Thunder, where he averaged 33.66 and scored two half-centuries in six matches.

"I loved my time there, there's a great atmosphere in the group," Butler said.

"There's a lot of young guys but some experience in there as well, including Shane Watson who I really got to enjoy getting to know and playing under his captaincy.

"It's a great part of the world and a really fun dressing room. I'm delighted to be back with the Thunder Nation."

The recent ODI series in the UK wasn't the only time Butler has put Australian bowlers to the sword.

Following our successful Ashes series (doesn't that feel like a long time ago now?) England dominated the five-match ODI series 4-1 and Butler scored a brilliant hundred, that you can see below, in the process.