Will Somerville
Full nameWilliam Edgar Richard Somerville
Birth date9 August 1984 (age 42)
Birth placeWadestown, Wellington, New Zealand
Heightft6
Heightinch4
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleBowler
CountryNew Zealand
Internationaltrue
Testdebutdate3 December
Testdebutyear2018
TestdebutagainstPakistan
Testcap275
Lasttestdate3 December
Lasttestyear2021
LasttestagainstIndia
Club 1Otago
Year 12004/05–2007/08
Club 2New South Wales
Year 22014/15–2017/18
Club 3Sydney Sixers
Year 32015/16–2017/18
Club 4Auckland
Year 42018/19–2022/23
Columns4
Column 1Test
Matches 16
Runs 1115
Bat avg 114.37
100s/50s 10/0
Top score 140*
Deliveries 11,466
Wickets 115
Bowl avg 148.26
Fivefor 10
Tenfor 10
Best bowling 14/75
Catches/stumpings 10/–
Column 2FC
Matches 253
Runs 21,077
Bat avg 218.56
100s/50s 20/4
Top score 260*
Deliveries 210,991
Wickets 2161
Bowl avg 229.98
Fivefor 24
Tenfor 20
Best bowling 28/136
Catches/stumpings 223/–
Column 3LA
Matches 332
Runs 3332
Bat avg 316.60
100s/50s 30/2
Top score 359
Deliveries 31,722
Wickets 339
Bowl avg 335.10
Fivefor 30
Tenfor 30
Best bowling 34/48
Catches/stumpings 310/–
Column 4T20
Matches 443
Runs 4200
Bat avg 425.00
100s/50s 40/0
Top score 437*
Deliveries 4833
Wickets 440
Bowl avg 427.80
Fivefor 40
Tenfor 40
Best bowling 43/18
Catches/stumpings 47/–
Sourcehttp://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/38607.html CricInfo
Date1 January

William Edgar Richard Somerville (born 9 August 1984) is a New Zealand former professional cricketer who made his international debut for New Zealand in December 2018. He played domestically for Otago and Auckland and in Australia for New South Wales and Sydney Sixers. He retired from professional cricket in April 2023.[1]

Early and domestic career

Somerville was born in the Wellington suburb of Wadestown. His family moved from New Zealand to Sydney, Australia, when he was nine and he grew up there.[2] He attended Cranbrook School in Sydney's eastern suburbs.[3] He returned to New Zealand to study at the University of Otago. A right-handed batsman and off-spin bowler, he played three matches for Otago, against Wellington in March 2005 and against Canterbury and Northern Districts in March 2006.[4] He also appeared in several matches for the New Zealand Academy in the 2005–06 season.[5]

After his studies he returned to Sydney to work as a chartered accountant and play cricket for University.[2] He began playing for New South Wales in 2013–14. On 2 January 2016, he made his Twenty20 debut for the Sydney Sixers in the 2015–16 Big Bash League.[6]

Bowling for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield in November 2016, Somerville took 4 for 61 and 5 for 65 in a three-wicket victory over Western Australia and was named player of the match.[7] He was one of the leading bowlers in the Sheffield Shield that season, with 35 wickets at an average of 23.14, including figures of 8 for 136 in the first innings against Queensland.[8] He made his List A debut for New South Wales in the 2017–18 JLT One-Day Cup on 15 October 2017.[9]

In June 2018, he was awarded a contract with Auckland for the 2018–19 season.[10] In September 2018, he was named in the Auckland Aces' squad for the 2018 Abu Dhabi T20 Trophy.[11]

In June 2020, he was offered a contract by Auckland ahead of the 2020–21 domestic cricket season.[12][13] He played his last professional cricket match in April 2023.[1]

International career

In November 2018, Somerville was added to New Zealand's Test squad for their series against Pakistan.[14] He made his Test debut for New Zealand against Pakistan on 3 December 2018, and took 4/75 and 3/52 in New Zealand's 123-run victory.[15]

Somerville played a total of six Test matches, taking 15 wickets. The four wickets he took on debut remained his best bowling analysis in Test matches.[1]

References

  1. ^ New Zealand offspinner Will Somerville announces retirement, CricInfo, 22 March 2023. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Meet Will Somerville". Retrieved 7 November 2016. – via YouTube.
  3. ^ "Will Somerville (2002) to Play in Sheffield Shield". Old Cranbrookians Association. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  4. ^ Will Somerville, CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2024. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Miscellaneous Matches played by Will Somerville". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Big Bash League, 17th Match: Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers at Perth, Jan 2, 2016". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
  7. ^ "New South Wales v Western Australia 2016–17". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Sheffield Shield bowling 2016-17". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  9. ^ "19th match (D/N), JLT One-Day Cup at Sydney, Oct 15 2017". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  10. ^ "Central Districts drop Jesse Ryder from contracts list". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Auckland Aces to face the world in Abu Dhabi". Scoop. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  12. ^ "Daryl Mitchell, Jeet Raval and Finn Allen among major domestic movers in New Zealand". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Auckland lose Jeet Raval to Northern Districts, Finn Allen to Wellington in domestic contracts". Stuff. 15 June 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  14. ^ "Uncapped 34-year-old Will Somerville replaces injured Todd Astle in Blackcaps Test squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  15. ^ "3rd Test, New Zealand tour of United Arab Emirates at Abu Dhabi, Dec 3-7 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 December 2018.