Bryan Wells (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Bryan Douglas "Bomber" Wells (27 July 1930 – 19 June 2008) was an English
cricket
er.
Wells was born and raised in Gloucester
, and educated at local school Linden Road Secondary. He was a right-handed tail-end batsman and off-break bowler who played in 302 first-class matches between 1951 and 1965, for Gloucestershire
and Nottinghamshire
. Wells took 998 wickets in first-class matches
at an average of 24.26.
" Billy Wells who struck the gong at the start of films made by the Rank studios.
Wells was unable to retain a place in his native County side through the emergence of David Allen
who was a far superior batsman. Wells had taken 122 and 123 wickets in 1955 and 1956 respectively but had a moderate season in 1957 and was not able to displace Allen or John Mortimore
thereafter. Joining Nottinghamshire, the weakest county team at that time, Wells claimed 120 wickets in his first season, bowling over 1200 overs. He retired after the 1965 season. A poor bat, Wells scored 25% of his runs in sixes. His career batting average was 7.47.
Wells claimed to have bowled the fastest over in cricket, during the time it took for the bells of Worcester Cathedral
to strike 12 o'clock. The bells have since been timed at approximately 34 seconds.
A noted raconteur, he published a book of tales called Well, Well Wells in 1982. Included in the book are many of his after dinner stories. He describes how on his very first match for Gloucestershire he had to borrow kit in order to play and travelled to the game on the bus. He was known to dislike physical exercise and so developed a style of just one or two paces. It took some time for batsman to get used to this unusual style: "I took five wickets in my first match. And I know at least two of them weren't looking," he told audiences.
Although he took 998 wickets in first class cricket he declined the opportunity to play in the last game of his final first class season in 1965. He thought he had 999 wickets. "Lots of people have taken 1000 wickets, he told the Notts captain. Nobody has taken 999."
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er.
Wells was born and raised in Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, and educated at local school Linden Road Secondary. He was a right-handed tail-end batsman and off-break bowler who played in 302 first-class matches between 1951 and 1965, for Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
and Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. Wells took 998 wickets in first-class matches
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
at an average of 24.26.
Playing career
Wells was known as "Bomber" after the former British heavyweight boxer "BombardierBombardier (rank)
Bombardier is a rank used in artillery units in the armies of Commonwealth countries instead of corporal. Lance-bombardier is used instead of lance-corporal....
" Billy Wells who struck the gong at the start of films made by the Rank studios.
Wells was unable to retain a place in his native County side through the emergence of David Allen
David Allen (cricketer)
David Arthur Allen is a former English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire between 1953 and 1972. He also played 39 Test matches for England.-Life and career:...
who was a far superior batsman. Wells had taken 122 and 123 wickets in 1955 and 1956 respectively but had a moderate season in 1957 and was not able to displace Allen or John Mortimore
John Mortimore (cricketer)
John Brian Mortimore is a former English cricketer, who played in nine Tests for England from 1959 to 1964, and captained Gloucestershire between 1965 and 1967....
thereafter. Joining Nottinghamshire, the weakest county team at that time, Wells claimed 120 wickets in his first season, bowling over 1200 overs. He retired after the 1965 season. A poor bat, Wells scored 25% of his runs in sixes. His career batting average was 7.47.
Wells claimed to have bowled the fastest over in cricket, during the time it took for the bells of Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
to strike 12 o'clock. The bells have since been timed at approximately 34 seconds.
A noted raconteur, he published a book of tales called Well, Well Wells in 1982. Included in the book are many of his after dinner stories. He describes how on his very first match for Gloucestershire he had to borrow kit in order to play and travelled to the game on the bus. He was known to dislike physical exercise and so developed a style of just one or two paces. It took some time for batsman to get used to this unusual style: "I took five wickets in my first match. And I know at least two of them weren't looking," he told audiences.
Although he took 998 wickets in first class cricket he declined the opportunity to play in the last game of his final first class season in 1965. He thought he had 999 wickets. "Lots of people have taken 1000 wickets, he told the Notts captain. Nobody has taken 999."
Retirement
In 1998, Wells suffered a major stroke which required him to use a wheelchair full-time. He died on 19 June 2008.External links
- Cricket Archive
- Cricinfo Profile
- Cricinfo Obituary
- Gloucestershire Cult Heroes
- Obituary The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...