{{Short description|English cricketer (born 1985)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Use British English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Will Gidman | image = Gidman1.jpg | image_size = 200px | caption = Gidman fielding whilst playing for Kent at Beckenham in 2016 | country = | fullname = William Robert Simon Gidman | nickname = Gidders, Giddo | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|02|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire | heightft = 6 | heightinch = 2 | batting = Left-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium | role = All-rounder | club1 = Gloucestershire Cricket Board | year1 = 2002 | club2 = Durham | year2 = {{nowrap|2007–2010}} | club3 = Gloucestershire | year3 = {{nowrap|2011–2014}} | clubnumber3 = 23 | club4 = Nottinghamshire | year4 = {{nowrap|2015–2016}} | clubnumber4 = 24 | club5 = → Kent <small>(on loan)</small> | year5 = 2016 | club6 = Kent | year6 = {{nowrap|2017–2018}} | type1 = FC | debutdate1 = 8 August | debutyear1 = 2007 | debutfor1 = Durham | debutagainst1 = Sri Lanka A | type2 = LA | debutdate2 = 29 August | debutyear2 = 2002 | debutfor2 = <br />Gloucestershire Cricket Board | debutagainst2 = <br />Surrey Cricket Board | columns = 3 | column1 = FC | matches1 = 83 | runs1 = 3,673 | bat avg1 = 35.31 | 100s/50s1 = 5/21 | top score1 = 143 | deliveries1 = 10,609 | wickets1 = 219 | bowl avg1 = 23.54 | fivefor1 = 10 | tenfor1 = 1 | best bowling1 = 6/15 | catches/stumpings1 = 38/– | column2 = LA | matches2 = 66 | runs2 = 945 | bat avg2 = 24.86 | 100s/50s2 = 0/4 | top score2 = 94 | deliveries2 = 2,411 | wickets2 = 61 | bowl avg2 = 29.72 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 4/20 | catches/stumpings2 = 18/– | column3 = T20 | matches3 = 15 | runs3 = 186 | bat avg3 = 23.25 | 100s/50s3 = 0/0 | top score3 = 40* | deliveries3 = 156 | wickets3 = 6 | bowl avg3 = 38.00 | fivefor3 = 0 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 2/23 | catches/stumpings3 = 3/– | date = 6 May | year = 2018 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/13826.html CricInfo }} '''William Robert Simon Gidman''' (born 14 February 1985) is an English former professional cricketer who most recently played for Kent County Cricket Club as an all-rounder. He previously played county cricket for Durham, Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire and spent a period on loan at Kent towards the end of the 2016 season before joining the club permanently in October 2016.
Gidman began his career with Gloucestershire before signing for Durham in 2006. He made his first-class cricket debut against Sri Lanka A in 2007, but did not play another first-class match again until 2010, which prompted a move away from the north-east.
After the 2010 season he signed for Gloucestershire, captained by his elder brother Alex. In his first season with the county he achieved a County Championship double of 50 wickets and 1000 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-championship-div2-2012/content/player/13826.html|title=Will Gidman|publisher=Cricinfo.com}}</ref>
Gidman's career best figures in first-class matches came in the same match for Gloucestershire in September 2013. In the game against Leicestershire at Bristol, he took career best bowling figures of 6/15 on Day 1,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/23928948|title=Gloucestershire v Leicestershire: Will Gidman scores ton at Bristol|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> and then scored 143 with the bat on Day 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/23953686|title=Gloucestershire v Leicestershire: Will Gidman takes 6–15|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> Gloucestershire went on to win the game be an innings and 138 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/o35467|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906040107/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/scorecard/o35467|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 September 2013|title=Gloucestershire v Leicestershire Scorecard|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>
In August 2014, Gidman, who would have been out of contract at Gloucestershire at the end of the season and had turned down a new contract with the county, signed a three-year contract with Nottinghamshire.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/28805001|title = Will Gidman: Nottinghamshire sign Gloucestershire all-rounder|date = 15 August 2014|access-date = 15 February 2015|website = |publisher = BBC Sport|last = |first = }}</ref><ref name=bp16aug16>[http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/notts-confirm-signing-gidman-rounder-announces/story-22756310-detail/story.html Notts confirm signing of Will Gidman as all-rounder announces Gloucestershire exit], ''Bristol Post'', 16 August 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2016.</ref><ref name=np22oct16>Davies M (2016) [http://www.nottinghampost.com/will-gidman-to-leave-nottinghamshire-despite-having-a-year-left-on-his-contract/story-29831901-detail/story.html Will Gidman to leave Nottinghamshire despite having a year left on his contract], ''Nottingham Post'', 22 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.</ref>
At the time of the move, Gidman's bowling and batting averages were outstanding, and indicated that he should make the step to the upper division of the County Championship successfully. However, both his batting and bowling fell away at Nottinghamshire and he had trouble justifying his place in the team. In July 2016, having missed the first half of the English season with an ankle injury, Gidman signed a one-month loan deal with Kent.<ref name=bbc23jul16>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36875928 Will Gidman: Kent sign Nottinghamshire all-rounder on loan], BBC Sport, 23 July 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2016.</ref> The loan was later extended to the remainder of the season and, following a successful period at the county, Gidman signed a permanent contract with Kent in October 2016 having been released by Nottinghamshire after playing in eight matches for the county in his two years with them.<ref name=np22oct16 /><ref name=bbc24oct16>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37752810 Will Gidman: Kent sign Nottinghamshire all-rounder after loan spell], BBC Sport, 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.</ref><ref name=np24oct16>Davies M (2016) [http://www.nottinghampost.com/former-nottinghamshire-men-will-gidman-and-imran-tahir-join-kent-and-derbyshire-respectively/story-29835459-detail/story.html Former Nottinghamshire men Will Gidman and Imran Tahir join Kent and Derbyshire respectively], ''Nottingham Post'', 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.</ref><ref name=ko24oct16>[https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/gidman-signs-for-kent-114556/ Will Gidman signs for Kent following his release by Nottinghamshire], ''Kent Online'', 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.</ref> After a "disappointing" 2017 season in which he appeared in 10 first-class matches but averaged less than 20 runs per innings in the County Championship, Gidman signed a contract extension in November 2017.<ref name=20nov17>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/42059371 Will Gidman: Kent all-rounder extends deal], BBC Sport, 20 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.</ref> During the 2018 season Gidman's playing opportunities were increasingly limited and he began to move into a coaching role, working with both the First XI and Second XI. During July he announced his retirement from playing cricket at the end of the 2018 season, deputising for Min Patel as Kent's Second XI coach whilst Patel was working with the England under-19 team. Gidman held an ECB Level 3 coaching qualification at the time.<ref name=ko16jul18>Fordham J (2018) [https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/sport/gidman-to-retire-at-end-of-season-186377/ Kent's Will Gidman to retire from playing and move into coaching], ''Kent Online'', 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.</ref>
He briefly re-registered as player for a T20 game while a coach at Durham, following an injury crisis.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57539299 Stokes returns after broken finger], BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 June 2021.</ref>
==Career best performances== ''as of 10 February 2018'' {|class=wikitable style="font-size:90%" |- !rowspan="1"| !colspan="4" rowspan="1"|Batting !colspan="4" rowspan="1"|Bowling (innings) |- ! !Score !Fixture !Venue !Season !Figures !Fixture !Venue !Season |- |First-class |align="center"|143 |Gloucestershire v Leicestershire |Bristol |align="center"|2013 |align="center"|6/15 |Gloucestershire v Leicestershire |Bristol |align="center"|2013 |- |List A |align="center"|94 |Kent v Windward Islands |Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua |align="center"|2016/17 |align="center"|4/20 |Kent v Guyana |Coolidge Cricket Ground, Antigua |align="center"|2017/18 |- |T20 |align="center"|40* |Gloucestershire v Surrey |The Oval |align="center"|2011 |align="center"|2/23 |Gloucestershire v Surrey |Cheltenham |align="center"|2014 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{cricinfo}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gidman, Will}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Cricketers from High Wycombe Category:English cricketers Category:Gloucestershire Cricket Board cricketers Category:Durham cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Category:Gloucestershire cricketers Category:Nottinghamshire cricketers Category:Kent cricketers