Will Somerville Signed by Auckland after Daniel Vettori's Recommendation

Auckland signs will Somerville after Daniel Vettori’s recommendation. The former Australian off-spinner will join the New Zealand domestic team for the upcoming season.

In fact, New Zealand-born Somerville made his first-class debut for Otago before moving to Australian side, New South Wales.

However, the off-spinner didn’t play a lot of cricket in his career which spanned for almost 13 years.

Good opportunity for Will Somerville.

Will played 16 matches for the Otago side in which he scalped 55 wickets. However, Somerville had to warm the benches, as Nathan McCullum was the first choice spinner in the team.

Meanwhile, Auckland chief head coach, Mark O’Donnell learned about Somerville interest to join the team from Wellington coach Bruce Edgar. After taking advice from batting coach, Mark O’Neil, Chris Lynn, and Daniel Vettori, O’Donnell met with the offspinner.

Mark O’Donnell said that the off-spinner will extract extra bounce because of his height. “He [Vettori] said he’s very good, he has some very good skills, and that’s what we require with Tarun finishing,” O’Donnell said. “At 6 foot 4 he gets good bounce and revs on the ball so there are assets to that.”

Auckland coach believes Will Somerville will move up the ranks if he can deliver the goods for the team.

“Jeetan Patel did it [played Test cricket] at 36 if you had a couple of injuries. Two years ago they were looking potentially at him [Somerville] in the Australian set-up. You would never say never, if he had a couple of strong years,” O’Donnell said.