Ben Sears has troubled the very best batters in the world during his developing career, and the New Zealand quick is hoping to give county opposition the hurry up as he helps Yorkshire make a flying start to this season’s Rothesay County Championship.
Sears will arrive at Headingley with extra pace in his locker.
After completing ODI commitments on home soil in early April, which means he misses the season opener at Hampshire, the plan is for the 27-year-old to be available for the next six games in Division One.
At time of writing, Yorkshire’s new Kiwi quick has played 20 times for his country; once in Tests, twice in one-day internationals and 17 times in T20I cricket.
It’s exactly a year ago since Wellington’s Sears played his only Test, taking five wickets against Australia at Christchurch, including second-innings figures of 4-90 as he tried desperately to pull a victory out of the fire. Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite to be. But the scalps of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh indicate a bowler with immense talent.
Picture by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images. Ben Sears bowls during his Test debut against Australia last year.
Sears first made his international debut in T20s in late 2021, aged 23. He has taken 19 wickets in that format.
He is a tall quick who seems to generate a lot of his pace through his explosiveness at the crease. He can bowl around the 90mph mark.
Ben’s father Michael was a fast bowler for Wellington in the earlier nineties.
Ben had to contend with injuries throughout his career. Unfortunately, he was ruled out of the recent Champions Trophy in Pakistan with a minor hamstring tear.
When revealing the news, New Zealand coach Gary Stead said that he was a player with “huge potential”.
Picture by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images. Ben Sears successfully appeals for his maiden Test wicket, that of Steve Smith lbw, last March.
He had previous experience of playing in England having been on the MCC Young Cricketers programme in 2017 and 2018.
He returned home for the 2018/19 domestic season and debuted across all three formats for Wellington.
He has taken 63 wickets in 21 first-class matches to date, with a best of 6-43.
Sears is a serial trophy winner at domestic level, something which will hearten Yorkshire supporters.
He helped Wellington win the T20 Super Smash title in 2020/21 and the 2018/19 Ford Trophy one-day competition.
Picture by Sanka Vidanagama/Getty Images. Wellington wonder Ben Sears is heading to Yorkshire.
In terms of the red ball, Wellington won the Plunket Shield in 2019/20 and again in 2023/24. In the former success, he was particularly impressive with 14 wickets in four games, including that aforementioned best of 6-43.
Anthony McGrath, Gavin Hamilton and all Yorkshire fans will clearly hope for a similar impact come April and May.
