David Willey (cricketer)

Personal life

He married singer-songwriter Carolynne Poole in November 2016.

Northamptonshire

Willey started his career playing for his home county Northamptonshire in the County Championship division two. Having come through the ranks at Northampton playing for O.N's and Northants Academy, he got his chance in the 2009 season aged 19 after a good pre season. His first game came against Leicestershire, the first game of the season against one of his father's old clubs. He scored 60 on debut after a good partnership with Andrew Hall, but did not continue this in the televised game against Essex in his first one day game getting out for a duck with a poor shot. His first wicket came in his second first class against Kent when he had Phil Edwards out LBW. On 8 May he was rewarded with a two year professional contract after impressing during the start of the season. It was in the Twenty20 that he excelled in, but this time with his bowling taking 3/9 in his first spell against Worcestershire and finished the 2009 competition with an average of 11.30. He appeared alongside Northants team mate Jack Brooks on Cricket AM feature, Brain vs Brawn, in 2010.

In 2013, he helped Northamptonshire to a 102-run victory in a rain-shortened Friends Life Twenty20 Final against Surrey where he made 60 with the bat, then had figures of 4/9, including a match-ending hat-trick to clean up the tail.

Yorkshire

On 19 August 2015, it was announced that Willey would be joining Yorkshire on a three year contract at the start of the 2016 season. He made his Yorkshire debut against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge on 1 May 2016.

Perth Scorchers

Wiley was signed by Perth Scorchers for the 2015-16 BBL season. After a successful first season he was retained for the 2016-17 season. In the first match against the Adelaide Strikers he performed well with the ball, taking 2 wickets, however he only scored 2 runs off five balls with the bat. In the Scorchers' second match against the Sydney Sixers he only scored one run and didn't take a wicket, in a heavy defeat. In the third match against the Melbourne he bowled very well, taking two wickets with the ball, before Ashton Agar scored a six to win in the final over.

2015 Ireland

Willey was selected in the England U19 cricket squad for the Tests against Bangladesh. Although he did not play in the first Test, he scored 65 in the first innings of the second Test. He made his One Day International debut for England against Ireland on 8 May 2015 and took his first wicket in a rain affected match.

2015 New Zealand and Australia

He was also called up to the England ODI team on 14 June 2015 against New Zealand, and played in the third match of the series. He took a wicket with his 2nd ball and finished with figures of 3-69. In the fourth match of the series he took figures of 2-89, and although he was expensive, England went on to win the game comfortably. He took 2-50 in the final game of the series as England won the series 3-2. He made his Twenty20 International debut in the same series on 23 June 2015. He took figures of 3-22 and scored six runs to help England win the match.

Willey played in the only T20 against Australia, which England won by five runs, taking figures of 2-32. He played in the final two ODIs against Australia, taking figures of 3-51 in the fourth ODI as England won by 3 wickets. In the final ODI he was out for a duck but took 1-13 as England lost the match and the series 3-2.

2015 Pakistan

Willey kept his place in the side against Pakistan for the ODI series. He didn’t take a wicket in the first game, but returned with figures of 3-25 in the second to help England win by 95 runs. In the third game he took 1-45, before taking 2-34 in the final game to help restrict Pakistan to 271 as England won by 84 runs. He played in the second and third ODIs against Pakistan, although he proved expensive, taking 0-43 in the second match of the series He returned to form in the final match of the series, taking figures of 3-36, as England won both matches.

2015-16 South Africa

He played in the first three matches against South Africa and took 1-30 in the first match, as England won by 39 runs on the DL Method. In the second and third match he failed to take a wicket, and did not play in the final two games. England eventually lost the series 3-2. He played in the first T20I against South Africa, taking figures of 0-15 and scoring an unbeaten seven with the bat, although England lost the game.

2016 T20 World Cup

He played every game in England’s 2016 World T20 campaign. He started off the tournament in expensive fashion, taking figures of 1-33 against the West Indies and 1-40 against South Africa. He played a crucial role in the win over Afghanistan, making an unbeaten 20 guide England to 141, before taking 2-23 with the ball.In that same match he along with Moeen Ali set the record for the highest partnership for the 8th wicket in T20 World Cup history (57*) He continued to impress against Sri Lanka, taking figures of 2-26. In the semi-final against New Zealand he took figures of 1-17 as England progressed to the final against the West Indies. While Willey bowled well, taking figures of 3-20, England fell just short and lost the game to finish as runners-up.

2016 Sri Lanka and Pakistan

Willey took 2-56 in the first ODI against Sri Lanka which ended in a tie. He took 1-65 in the second match as England won by 10 wickets, and took a further wicket in the third ODI, which was abandoned due to rain. In the fourth match of the series, he took figures of 2-58 to help restrict Sri Lanka to 305 and England went on to secure a six wicket victory. In the final match of the series he took 4-34 to help England win the match by 122 runs and the series 3-0.

Willey played in the fourth ODI against Pakistan, although he didn’t pick up a wicket and finished with figures of 0-40, although England won the match. England lost the final match of the series, with Willey failing to pick up a wicket. England won the series 4-1. Willey played in the only T20 between the two sides, making 12 with the bat and taking figures of 0-16 as England lost by nine wickets.

2016 Bangladesh

Willey did not take a wicket in the first ODI against Bangladesh, which England won by 21 runs. In the second match he finished with figures of 0-36 as England lost by 34 runs. He did not play in the final match of the series, which England won.

2017 India

In the first ODI Willey made an unbeaten ten before taking figures of 2-47 as England lost by three wickets. He took 0-32 in the second ODI as India won by 15 runs. In the final ODI he took figures of 1-8 but was injured, although England won by five runs.