Buttler, Root could be heading to Big Bash

Cape Town - England stalwarts Jos Buttler and Joe Root are reportedly set for a spell in the Big Bash League in 2018/19 with the Sydney Thunder.

An unconfirmed report in the Evening Standard claims that the Thunder have completed a double swoop for the Test skipper Root and potent wicketkeeper batsman Buttler.

The Thunder are yet to fill their two overseas players slots but last season Buttler made his BBL debut while the second slot was occupied by Kiwi Mitchell McLeneghan.

If Buttler is confirmed it will be his third BBL campaign after he debuted with the Melbourne Renegades in 2013 before signing for the Thunder in 2017.

England have a conveniently located gap in their international season around the time of the BBL.

The Three Lions round up their tour of Sri Lanka in November and their next assignment is an as yet unconfirmed series in the Caribbean pencilled in for February.

Root shared his desire to work more T20 cricket into his schedule after coming in for some criticism over his form in the T20Is against India.