Root has finally got over losing to Ennis for School Sports Personality (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Joe Root has finally got over losing to Jessica Ennis for School Sports Personality

7:00pm Wednesday 8th August 2012 in Yorkshire By Graham Hardcastle

There must be something in the air at King Ecgbert’s School in Sheffield!

Not only did the sports department set Jessica Ennis on the right path to Olympic glory in the women’s heptathlon, but they also played a part in the rise of one of English cricket’s star prospects in Joe Root.

While Ennis reached the pinnacle of her career on Saturday night, Root still has a long way to go before he can be acclaimed at the top of his sport.

But the Yorkshire opener is definitely on the right track, having cemented his place in the England Lions, currently playing Australia A at Old Trafford, and gained a place on a preliminary 30-man list for the full team’s World Twenty20 defence in Sri Lanka next month.

Root, 23, was in his first year at secondary school when Ennis, 26, was in her last.

Aside from being professionals in the sporting world, they are also avid Sheffield United football fans and also have something else in common, as Root explained.

“The first time I came across her was when we had a School Sports Personality event,” he said.

“I was only 11 but I was nominated and so was Jessica. She won it, and I thought ‘how have I Iost to someone who does athletics?’

“I was a bit gutted about it, and then a couple of years later you saw her in the World Championships and Commonwealth Games - and now she's winning a gold medal in the Olympics.

“You look back and think ‘probably you can sit down and shut up Joe because it's a hell of an achievement for her’.”

Root made only six in the Lions’ first innings against the Australians yesterday.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, continue their unsuccessful Clydesdale Bank 40 campaign against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road tomorrow night.