| Alex Wakely | |
| Country: | England |
| Fullname: | Alex George Wakely |
| Birth Date: | 3 November 1988 |
| Birth Place: | Hammersmith, London, England |
| Batting: | Right-handed |
| Bowling: | Right arm medium Right-arm off break |
| Role: | Middle Order Batsman |
| Club1: | Northamptonshire |
| Year1: | 2004–2021 |
| Clubnumber1: | 8 |
| Club2: | Bedfordshire |
| Type1: | FC |
| Debutdate1: | 13 July |
| Debutyear1: | 2007 |
| Debutfor1: | Northants |
| Debutagainst1: | Somerset |
| Lastdate1: | 8 April |
| Lastyear1: | 2021 |
| Lastfor1: | Northants |
| Lastagainst1: | Kent |
| Type2: | LA |
| Debutdate2: | 4 May |
| Debutyear2: | 2005 |
| Debutfor2: | Bedfordshire |
| Debutagainst2: | Sussex |
| Lastdate2: | 20 June |
| Lastyear2: | 2019 |
| Lastfor2: | Northants |
| Lastagainst2: | Australia A |
| Columns: | 3 |
| Column1: | FC |
| Matches1: | 148 |
| Runs1: | 6,880 |
| Bat Avg1: | 31.27 |
| 100S/50S1: | 9/37 |
| Top Score1: | 123 |
| Deliveries1: | 509 |
| Wickets1: | 6 |
| Bowl Avg1: | 71.00 |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 2/62 |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 98/– |
| Column2: | LA |
| Matches2: | 90 |
| Runs2: | 2,532 |
| Bat Avg2: | 32.88 |
| 100S/50S2: | 2/18 |
| Top Score2: | 109 |
| Deliveries2: | 136 |
| Wickets2: | 5 |
| Bowl Avg2: | 26.20 |
| Fivefor2: | 0 |
| Tenfor2: | 0 |
| Best Bowling2: | 2/14 |
| Catches/Stumpings2: | 32/– |
| Column3: | T20 |
| Matches3: | 133 |
| Runs3: | 2,597 |
| Bat Avg3: | 26.23 |
| 100S/50S3: | 0/14 |
| Top Score3: | 64 |
| Deliveries3: | 12 |
| Wickets3: | 0 |
| Bowl Avg3: | – |
| Fivefor3: | – |
| Tenfor3: | – |
| Best Bowling3: | – |
| Catches/Stumpings3: | 42/– |
| Date: | 26 May |
| Year: | 2021 |
| Source: | http://espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/23506.html Cricinfo |
Alex George Wakely (born 3 November 1988) is an English former cricketer who played for Northamptonshire and was also a former captain of the England under-19s. He is a right-hand batsman, bowls off-breaks and sometimes medium pace bowling. In May 2021, Wakely announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.[1]
Born 3 November 1988 in Hammersmith, London, Wakely attended Bedford School. While at the school Wakely was coached by the former England batsman Derek Randall. After his A-levels, Wakely chose to focus on playing cricket professionally, and being a part time pianist.
In 2004, Wakely joined the staff of Northamptonshire whilst still in full-time education. He scored 81* on his Northamptonshire Second XI debut aged just 15. In July 2007, he made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire against Somerset. He made scores of 38 and 66, as well as taking two wickets including that of Marcus Trescothick.[2] He played three more first-class matches in 2007 but after scoring 55 against Nottinghamshire he managed only single figure scores in his last five innings. After that poor run of form, he had a spell in the second XI before returning to the first XI in 2009. On 16 June that year, Wakely scored his maiden first-class century against Glamorgan, scoring 113*.[3] For the 2010 season, Wakely was given more of a first team role and began to realise his potential with a century against Middlesex at Lord's.[4]
For the 2013 season, Wakely captained the Northants team in limited overs cricket. This proved to be a successful move; the team finished second in its group in the 40 over league,[5] and won the T20 competition.[6] Wakely played in all of the T20 matches that season and played a key role in the final, scoring 59 from 30 balls.[7]
He missed the whole of the 2014 season because of an Achilles tendon injury that he received during the club's pre-season tour of Barbados.[8]
He returned for the 2015 season recovered, and having been appointed captain in all forms of cricket.[9] He scored two first-class centuries in the season, including a personal highest score of 123 against Leicestershire.[10] Northants once again reached the final of the T20 competition, but this time lost to Lancashire.[11] The next year, Northants returned to Twenty20 finals day with Wakely again captain, and were this time victorious. He was involved in century partnerships in both the semi-final and the final. In the semi, against Notts he and Ben Duckett took Northants from 15/3 to 138/4, himself scoring 53 from 45 balls.[12] The final was versus Durham, and Wakely came in to bat with the score at 9/3, and shared in a partnership of 120 with Josh Cobb.[13]
Wakely was picked for the England under-19s tour of Sri Lanka in 2006/07. He scored England's only century of the tri-nation series with 108 from 140 balls against Sri Lanka. In August, he scored a century on his 'Test' debut for England under-19s against Pakistan. On 1 October 2007, he was selected as the England under-19s captain for the 2008 World Cup[14]