Will Williams

Will Williams is a dual Passport (UK/NZ) holding seamer who is currently on a 3 1/2 year contract with Lancashire County Cricket Club.

The right-arm seamer was signed by the County during the 2022 summer courtesy of his exploits in New Zealand for Canterbury across all formats. Williams had made waves in domestic cricket in recent years. He was Canterbury’s stand-out performer with the ball, including a record-breaking T20 5-for and hattrick.

In 2019/20, his exploits saw him sweep the awards, taking out Men’s “Player of the Year”, “Player’s Player”, and “Bowler of the Year”. The following season the trend continued, winning the “Bowler of the Year”, and was nominated for New Zealand’s domestic “Player of the Year”. Williams was an integral part of Canterbury’s Plunket Shield (first-class), and Ford Trophy (List A) titles, topping both competition wicket charts (31 wickets at 17.03, and 20 wickets at 18.05).

In January 2020, Williams became the first Canterbury player to take a T20 hattrick, amongst figures of 5-12 from only 2 overs (the fewest balls to claim a 5-wicket haul in T20 history). 9 months later, he bagged his maiden Plunket Shield 5-for, taking out 4 of the top 5 Wellington batsmen, including Blackcaps players Rachin Ravindra, Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, and Michael Bracewell, on his way to figures of 5-58 (26). A week later, he eclipsed these figures, taking 5-26 (18) against the Northern Knights, adding a further three kiwi players to his wicket list, namely BJ Watling, Scott Kuggeleijn, and Ish Sodhi.

Williams would go on to top the Plunket Shield wicket charts, helping Canterbury to the title. However, alongside his potency, he proved to be one of the more difficult bowlers to get away with, with a tournament economy of 1.98. This was highlighted in a match against Central Districts, going for 27 runs from 36 overs across both innings at McLean Park in Napier.

The seamer has really hit his straps in recent years, following his debut almost a decade ago (November 2012). Study, alongside a spate of injuries, hampered the initial part of his cricket career, but over the past few seasons, he’s become a key member of the successful Canterbury side. In 2021/22, he continued to excel, particularly in red-ball cricket finishing fourth on the Plunket Shield wicket charts with 21 poles at 21.52.

With 167 wickets at 25 across the three formats for Canterbury, Williams was one of the most prolific seamers in New Zealand cricket. It was no surprise to see "Big Billy" get snapped up to play County cricket for Lancashire in 2022. It is fair to say the Cantabrian, who doubles as a Pilot by trade, has starred for the Red Rose since joining the Club and long may this continue.

Check out the following links for more details about Will Williams below.

https://cricket.lancashirecricket.co.uk/news/2022-news/watch-mark-chilton-on-will-williams-addition/
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/sport/cricket/meet-canterbury-seamer-nicknamed-crickets-mccaw-whose-bowling-career-taking-off