David Willey

David Willey – England’s Dynamic All-Rounder and Left-Arm Pacer

Introduction

David Willey, a left-arm fast-medium bowler and aggressive left-handed batsman, was a vital player for England’s white-ball cricket team from 2015 to 2023. Known for his swing bowling, ability to take early wickets, and powerful lower-order hitting, Willey played an essential role in England’s T20 and ODI squads. A natural-born cricketer, Willey is the son of former England cricketer and umpire Peter Willey. He began his professional career with Northamptonshire, later moving to Yorkshire, and eventually representing various T20 franchises worldwide, including Chennai Super Kings (IPL), Perth Scorchers (BBL), and Multan Sultans (PSL). One of Willey’s career highlights was being a part of the England squad that won the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. However, following England’s disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, he announced his retirement from international cricket.

David Willey – Quick Facts

Attribute	Details
Full Name	David Jonathan Willey
Born	28 February 1990 (Age 34)
Birthplace	Northampton, England
Height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Batting Style	Left-handed
Bowling Style	Left-arm fast-medium
Role	Bowling All-rounder
Father	Peter Willey (Former England Cricketer & Umpire)
International Debut (ODI)	8 May 2015 vs Ireland
International Debut (T20I)	23 June 2015 vs New Zealand
Retirement from International Cricket	November 2023

David Willey – Career Statistics

Format	Matches	Runs	Batting Average	Wickets	Bowling Average	Best Bowling
ODIs	73	663	24.55	100	29.75	5/30
T20Is	43	226	15.06	51	23.13	4/7
First-Class	77	2,515	27.33	198	29.77	5/29
List A	156	2,145	25.53	188	29.87	5/30

Early Life and Domestic Career

David Willey was born in Northampton, England, into a cricketing family. His father, Peter Willey, played Test cricket for England and later became an international umpire. David developed his skills at Northamptonshire, where he rose through the ranks to establish himself as a quality all-rounder. Northamptonshire (2009–2015) – The Rise of a Swing Bowler Willey made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire in 2009 at the age of 19. His early performances showcased his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.

Key Moments at Northamptonshire:

Scored 60 on first-class debut vs Leicestershire. Took 3/9 in T20 debut vs Worcestershire. Match-winning performance in the 2013 T20 Final: 60 runs and 4/9, including a hat-trick. His consistent performances earned him a move to Yorkshire in 2016, where he further refined his skills. Yorkshire (2016–2022) – Becoming a White-Ball Specialist In August 2015, Willey signed a three-year contract with Yorkshire and made his debut in May 2016. His performances helped Yorkshire in both County Championship and limited-overs cricket.

Notable Performances for Yorkshire:

Key player in Yorkshire’s one-day team from 2016 to 2022. Developed into a dangerous lower-order batsman. Led the team’s pace attack in white-ball formats. T20 Franchise Cricket – A Globally Sought-After All-Rounder David Willey became a popular name in franchise cricket, playing for teams in IPL, BBL, PSL, The Hundred, and other T20 leagues. Key Franchise Teams

Team	League	Years
Perth Scorchers	Big Bash League (BBL)	2015–2019
Chennai Super Kings	Indian Premier League (IPL)	2018–2019
Royal Challengers Bangalore	IPL	2022–2023
Multan Sultans	Pakistan Super League (PSL)	2022–Present
Northern Superchargers	The Hundred	2021–2022

International Career – Representing England (2015–2023)

ODI Debut and Early Years (2015–2016) David Willey made his ODI debut for England against Ireland in May 2015. He made an immediate impact, taking a wicket in his first match.

Key ODI Moments

2015: Took 3/69 vs New Zealand in only his second ODI. 2016 T20 World Cup: Named in the ICC Team of the Tournament after taking 3/20 in the final. 2018: Key role in England's 481/6 vs Australia, the highest ODI score ever.

2019 Cricket World Cup Snub

Despite being one of England’s leading white-ball bowlers, Willey was left out of England’s final 2019 World Cup squad in favor of Jofra Archer. This was a heartbreaking moment in his career, as England went on to win the tournament without him. However, Willey made a strong comeback in 2020, taking his first ODI five-wicket haul (5/30) vs Ireland.

Winning the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup

Willey was part of England’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in 2022. Although he didn’t play in the final, he contributed in the tournament with tight bowling and crucial lower-order runs.

Records and Achievements

Fastest ODI Fifty by an England Player: 17 balls. First Five-Wicket Haul in ODIs: 5/30 vs Ireland (2020). Highest Partnership for 8th Wicket in T20 World Cup History: 57 runs with Moeen Ali. Key player in England’s 2022 T20 World Cup-winning squad.

Retirement from International Cricket (2023)

Following England’s disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup campaign, Willey announced his retirement from international cricket on 1 November 2023. He played his final ODI vs Pakistan on 11 November 2023 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, taking 3/56 in his last match. Final International Match: 11 November 2023 vs Pakistan. Final International Wicket: Mohammad Wasim Jr (caught behind). Willey’s international career ended with 100 ODI wickets and 51 T20I wickets, making him one of England’s most effective white-ball all-rounders of the modern era.

Post-Retirement and Future Plans

David Willey continues to play in T20 franchise leagues, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and The Hundred. He remains a valuable asset in global T20 cricket, known for his swing bowling and explosive hitting. Current Teams (Post-International Career) Multan Sultans (PSL 2024). Welsh Fire (The Hundred 2024). Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2024). David Willey’s legacy in England’s white-ball cricket is undeniable, and his contributions will be remembered for years to come.