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Gloucestershire sign Ben Wells

22 July 2021

Gloucestershire Cricket is pleased to announce the signing of 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Ben Wells.

The right-handed top-order batter, Wells makes the move to Gloucestershire from the Somerset academy and is contracted until the end of the 2023 season.

Speaking on his new contract at the Club, Ben said:

“I’m really happy to be here and very excited to get going with Gloucestershire. Everything has been great so far and I enjoyed meeting the team and the coaches who were friendly and welcoming.

“My goal at the Club is to break into the first team and then to try and dominate at the county level and see where that can take me.”

Wells, who hails from Bath, recently featured for Gloucestershire against Wiltshire making 24 not out off 15 balls batting at number seven. He also recorded one dismissal, stumping former Gloucestershire player and Wiltshire captain, Ed Young.

Before signing for The Shire, Wells had enjoyed a fruitful June that turned heads. He began by making 139 off 86 for his local cricket club Bath CC in a 40-over match against Bashley CC. Then, playing for Somerset Second XI, he made an unbeaten 111 off just 61 balls in a T20 against Northants.

Wells can focus all his attention on progressing his cricket skills now that he has completed his BSc in Physics at the University of Exeter where he was also captain of the first XI.

Having featured regularly for both Second XI sides of Gloucestershire and Somerset, Ben made the decision to stay closer to home and sign for The Shire.

Interim Head Coach Ian Harvey said:

"Ben has shown tremendous talent and given us a glimpse into his potential. We saw him lead Exeter University MCC in preseason and he has played well for our Second XI this summer.

"It is a huge boost for the Club having Ben commit his future to Gloucestershire. We look forward to helping Ben improve and develop his game further in the next two years.”

Undoubtedly, one of the lures of joining the Club will have been the opportunity to be an understudy to England international James Bracey.

“I’m looking forward to learning a lot from James,”  Ben said. “He’s a great player and I’m excited to see how he goes about his preparation and how he approaches games.”

With five Gloucestershire players set to take part in The Hundred, opportunities are sure to arise in the Royal London Cup for Wells to prove his worth and potentially break into the first XI.

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