PAARL ROYALS CONFIRM EXCITING AUSTRALIAN MITCHELL OWEN AS ROOT REPLACEMENT

Paarl Royals have announced the signing of Australian batsman Mitchell Owen as a replacement for England’s Joe Root for the remainder of Betway SA20 Season 3.

Root, who has scored 279 runs at 55.8 and claimed 5 wickets at an economy rate of 7.00 during the 8 matches he's played, will be unavailable from 1 February onwards due to his commitments with the England national team. Based on his numbers and Royals' current top position on the points table, Root has contributed massively to the season so far.

In his place comes Mitchell Owen, an exciting top-order batsman, has been in impressive form, coming off a 100 in the recent Big Bash League final in Australia. He was also in the BBL team of the tournament. Known for his dynamic stroke play, Owen’s arrival adds further depth to the Royals' squad.

Royals' Head Coach, Trevor Penney, expressed his gratitude for Root’s contributions to the team and his excitement about the new signing: “Joe has been an invaluable part of our team, bringing experience, leadership, and class to our campaign. We sincerely thank him for his efforts in helping us reach the playoffs and wish him the best for his England commitments. In Mitchell Owen, we have an exciting top-order talent who has been performing exceptionally well. His ability to make an impact in key moments will be a great asset for us.”

To date, Royals have won 7 out of their first 8 matches, including becoming the first team in SA20 to win all five of their home matches. They will next take on Joburg Super Kings today in Johannesburg - click here for our exclusive Match Centre.