Will Jefferson

William Ingleby Jefferson (born October 25, 1979) is a professional cricketer who played for Essex County Cricket Club until 2006, and for Nottinghamshire in the 2007 season. Standing about 6 foot 10 inches (2.08 m) tall, [Sources differ as to his height. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15490.html Cricinfo] gives 6 ft 9½ in, the [http://www.ecb.co.uk/stats/players/essex/will-jefferson,124,PP.html ECB] and many other sources give 6 ft 10 in, and [http://www.essexcricket.org.uk/profile_jefferson.htm Essex County Cricket Club] gives 6 ft 10½ in. (Final reference retrieved 16 April 2006, no longer present as of 29 August 2006).] he is the tallest player in county cricket, and among the tallest professional cricketers ever. [Paul Dunkels who represented Sussex and Warwickshire is also reputed to be 6 foot 10 inches tall [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/12268.html (Cricinfo Profile)] . The height of Anthony Allom of Surrey is recorded as between 6 foot 9 inches and 6 foot 10 inches [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/8721.html (Cricinfo Profile)] ]

Jefferson is a right-handed opening batsman and a reliable slip fielder. He was born in Derby to a cricketing family; his father Richard Jefferson played first-class cricket for Surrey. He showed his promise at Oundle School and Durham University, and made his first-class debut for British Universities against the touring Zimbabweans in 2000.

His first full season at Essex was 2002, during which he scored 815 first-class runs; his 165 not out in the final match of the season [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/75/75459.html Essex vs Nottinghamshire, 18–21 September 2002] from CricketArchive] made a major contribution to Essex winning the second division of the County Championship.

His best season so far was 2004, in which he scored 1555 first-class runs at an average of 55.53 with 6 centuries including a high score of 222. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8233/f_Batting_by_Season.html Jefferson's first-class batting averages by season] from CricketArchive] In 2005, a slump in form saw him relegated to the Essex Second XI, but he responded with 303 not out against MCC Young Cricketers, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/83/83251.html Essex Second XI v Marylebone Cricket Club Young Cricketers, 10–12 August 2005] from CricketArchive] and regained his place in the first team.

Before the start of the 2006 season, he suffered a freak accident, cutting his left wrist whilst trying to open a window, and severing the tendons. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/239849.html Jefferson suffers freak injury] from Cricinfo] After recovering from this injury, he failed to regain a regular place in the Essex side, and left the county by mutual consent in August 2006. [ [http://www.essexcricket.org.uk/xt_news90_01.htm Press release] from Essex County Cricket Club] In September of that year, he signed a three-year contract with Nottinghamshire. [ [http://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news.cfm?idNews=197 Press release] from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club]

In January 2007, he was selected for the England A team to tour Bangladesh in February and March. [ [http://www.ecb.co.uk/england/england-a/yardy-to-lead-england-a,11140,EN.html Press release] from the ECB] [ [http://www.trentbridge.co.uk/news.cfm?idNews=249 Press release] from Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club]

Notes

References

*cricinfo|ref=ci/content/player/15490.html
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/8/8233/8233.html William Jefferson] from CricketArchive
* [http://www.essexcricket.org.uk/profile_jefferson.htm Will Jefferson] from Essex County Cricket Club. (Reference retrieved 16 April 2006, no longer present as of 29 August 2006).
* [http://www.ecb.co.uk/stats/players/essex/will-jefferson,124,PP.html Will Jefferson] from the ECB
*" [http://www.thisislondon.com/sport/articles/4408438?source=Evening%20Standard Essex boy on natural high] " from Evening Standard
*" [http://www.world-a-team.net/content/view/12/28/ Getting to Know: Will Jefferson] " from World A-Team