William Michael Harry Rhodes, commonly known as Will Rhodes, is a talented cricket player hailing from England. Born with a cricket-rich name, he has managed to create a reputation for himself as a proficient opening batsman and a valuable change bowler over the years.
Rhodes began his cricket journey at Yorkshire, signing junior professional terms at Headingley in 2013. Making a surprise debut in May 2014 against Glamorgan, he quickly impressed with his skills and was dubbed as an “outstanding all-rounder” and “a very talented cricketer” by Paul Farbrace, Yorkshire’s Second XI coach at the time. His potential was further showcased when he played for England U-19s against Pakistan and even scored a century.
In 2015, Rhodes continued his progression, making his first-class debut in the champion county fixture against the MCC in Abu Dhabi. He made an immediate impact, taking three wickets and scoring 61 runs from the middle order. Given the opportunity to open the batting in the Championship season, he showed promise with both bat and ball. His performances in one-day and Twenty20 cricket also caught the attention of selectors.
However, Yorkshire decided that Rhodes’ development would benefit from playing elsewhere, so he spent time on loan at Essex in 2016 under the guidance of fellow Yorkshiremen Chris Silverwood and Anthony McGrath. It was during this period that he realized his future might lie elsewhere, leading him to make the decision to leave Yorkshire midway through the 2017 season.
Upon the recommendation of former Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie, who had always been an admirer of Rhodes’ talents and had encouraged him to take up the opener’s role, he signed a two-year deal with Warwickshire ahead of the 2018 season. Rhodes wasted no time in making an impact, scoring four centuries in the Championship, the first of his career being a match-winning knock in a run chase against Northants at Edgbaston.
His impressive performances and leadership qualities were acknowledged when he was appointed club captain at Warwickshire at the end of 2019, succeeding Jeetan Patel in the role. Rhodes has proven himself to be a reliable and consistent player, contributing both with the bat and the ball.
As he continues to build on his achievements, Will Rhodes remains a name to watch out for in the cricketing world. With his talent, determination, and leadership skills, he has the potential to leave a lasting legacy in the game.
