Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Personal information
Full name	Mattheus Hendrik Wessels
Born	12 November 1985 (1985-11-12) (age 26) Nambour, Queensland, Australia
Nickname	Riki, Blood
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Batting style	Right Handed
Role	Wicketkeeper/Batsman
Relations	Kepler Wessels (father)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2004-2009	Northamptonshire (squad no. 6)
2004	MCC
2011- (2013)	Nottinghamshire
First-class debut	13 July 2004 MCC v West Indians
List A debut	3 May 2005 Northamptonshire v Denmark
Career statistics
Competition	FC	OD	T20
Matches	66	69	45
Runs scored	3037	1565	668
Batting average	30.06	26.98	23.03
100s/50s	4/20	1/8	0/2
Top score	109	100	66*
Balls bowled	18	-	-
Wickets	-	-	-
Bowling average	-	-	-
5 wickets in innings	-	-	-
10 wickets in match	-	-	-
Best bowling	-	-	-
Catches/stumpings	127/11	53/0	11/12
Source: Cricinfo, 28 September 2009

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, (born 12 November 1985, Queensland, Australia) is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire. He is a wicket keeper, although he has been playing as a specialist batsman since he joined Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. He is the son of former South African captain Kepler Wessels, who also played 24 Tests for Australia.^[1]

Early life

Although Riki was born in Australia, he grew up in Port Elizabeth, South Africa due to his father playing for the South Africa cricket team, who previously played for Australia when South Africa were banned from Test Cricket. Being born into a cricketing family, his career path was obvious from the beginning and when he was 18 he made the decision to leave his family behind in pursuit of his own International cricket career in the UK.

Cricket career

In 2004, Riki joined the staff at Northamptonshire county cricket club where he impressed in the second eleven producing several noticeable scores. This led to him being selected for the MCC in 2004 and in the first team of Nottinghamshire for the start of the 2011 season. In this year, he established himself as a first class player, and scored his first century at the age of 19 against Somerset.^[2] In 2007, he became qualified to play for England which is what he has wanted to do from an early age. Being a keen Hockey player (playing for Northampton Lions and the University of Northampton teams)^[3] helps him to play a variety of shots including the Reverse sweep for which he is well known. He is a fairly attacking player especially in one day cricket, where he has one century to date. On the 7 November, Wessels signed a new contract extension along with fellow Northamptonshire wicket keeper Niall O'Brien, keeping Riki at the club until 2010.^[4]

He also turned out for Nondescripts Cricket Club in Sri Lanka during the English off Season between 2008 and 2010.

Riki has signed for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for the 2011 season, where he plies his trade as a specialist batsman.

References

1. ^ Kepler Wessels Cricinfo. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
2. ^ Clive Ellis Wessels son shines The Telegraph. 2005-05-28. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
3. ^ University of Northampton notable players Wikidoc. Retrieved 2010-01-14.
4. ^ Northants tie up wicketkeepers ECB Website. 2008-11-07. Retrieved 2010-01-14.

External links

• Cricinfo Profile
• Cricket Archive Stats
• Northants Cricket Page
• Official Website
• [1]

Persondata
Name	Wessels, Riki
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 November 1985
Place of birth	Marogudoore, Queensland
Date of death
Place of death