Sam Wells (cricketer)
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| Full name | Samuel Raymond Wells | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 July 1984 Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007/08–2016/17 | Otago | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricInfo, 16 February 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Samuel Raymond Wells (born 13 July 1984) is a New Zealand former cricketer who played for Otago between the 2007–08 and 2016–17 seasons.[1] He played as an all-rounder.
Cricket career
[edit]Wells was born at Dunedin in 1984 and was educated at Otago Boys' High School in the city before studying law and politics at Otago University, graduating in 2007.[2][3][4][5] He first played for Otago age-group sides during the 2002–03 season and for the Otago 'A' team from 2004–05, before making his debut for the senior provincial side in a November 2007 first-class match against Central Districts, making scores of 15 and five not out on debut.[6][7]
An all-rounder, Wells played predominantly in first-class matches during his early career, making his List A debut in 2008–09 and his Twenty20 debut in 2010–11.[6] Two five-wicket hauls in the first two matches of the 2009–10 Plunket Shield season brought him to wider attention,[4] and later in the season he scored his first two centuries.[5][6] He scored 478 first-class runs during the season, finishing with a batting average of 59.75 runs per innings, and took 21 wickets. The following season saw his batting average at 40.16 and he attended a New Zealand national team training camp ahead of the 2011–12 season.[5]
After scoring a rapid 65 runs and taking one wicket for a New Zealand XI in a warm up match against the touring Zimbabweans in January 2012, Wells was a surprise call up to the New Zealand squad for the only Test match of the tour.[1][5][8][9] He did not play in the match and was never called up to a full national squad again, although he did play two first-class matches for the New Zealand A team against India A during their tour of New Zealand in September and October 2012.[3][6][10]
In a domestic career that lasted until the end of the 2016–17 season, Wells played 141 matches for Otago.[10][11] In 63 first-class matches, 61 of which were for the provincial side, he scored four centuries and took 115 wickets. He also played in 43 List A and 37 Twenty20 matches for Otago.[6][12]
Professional and selection career
[edit]Wells was admitted to the bar in 2014 and has worked in litigation at the Dunedin law firm Gallaway Cook Allan.[3] He was a selector for the Otago A side and in November 2022 was appointed the Convenor of Selectors for the Otago side.[12] After a season in the role he was appointed as the selection manager for the New Zealand national side, working alongside coaches to inform the selection process.[10][11][13][14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Sam Wells, CricInfo. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 137. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2 (Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 June 2023.)
- ^ a b c Stephen C (2018) A lawyers' cricketing XIII, New Zealand Law Society, 2 March 2018. (Archived version available at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 16 February 2024.)
- ^ a b Wells wowing cricket world, New Zealand Cricket, 27 November 2009. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d Cricket: New boy Wells meets Black Caps teammates, New Zealand Herald, 23 January 2012. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Sam Wells, CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 February 2024. (subscription required)
- ^ Central Districts vs Otago, CricInfo. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Watling fights after visitors' seamers strike, CricInfo. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Savory L (2012) 'Fantastic' opportunity for Otago cricketer, Southland Times, 24 January 2012. (Available online at Stuff. Retrieved 16 February 2024.)
- ^ a b c Former Otago allrounder Sam Wells appointed New Zealand's selection manager, CricInfo. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b Wells new NZC selection manager, Otago Daily Times, 29 September 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ a b Former Volts appointed Otago Selectors, Otago Cricket, 4 November 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Former Otago Volt Sam Wells appointed Blackcaps Selector, Otago Cricket, 28 September 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
- ^ Second A (2023) Wells steps up to 'soft power' role, Otago Daily Times, 27 October 2023. Retrieved 16 February 2024.