{{short description|New Zealand cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2017}}
{{Other uses}}{{Infobox cricketer | name = Will Williams | image = | country = | fullname = William Salter Austen Williams | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|6|df=yes}} | birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm medium-fast | role =Bowler
| club1 = Canterbury | year1 = {{nowrap|2012/13–2021/22}} | clubnumber1 = | club2 = Lancashire | year2 = 2022–2025 | clubnumber2 = | club3 = Gloucestershire | year3 = 2026– | clubnumber3 =
| type1 = First-class | debutdate1 = 12 November | debutyear1 = 2012 | debutfor1 = Canterbury | debutagainst1 = Otago | type2 = List A | debutdate2 = 18 January | debutyear2 = 2017 | debutfor2 = Canterbury | debutagainst2 = <br />Northern Districts
| columns = 3 | column1 = FC | matches1 = 83 | runs1 = 1,076 | bat avg1 = 12.96 | 100s/50s1 = 0/2 | top score1 = 98 | deliveries1 = 13,867 | wickets1 = 237 | bowl avg1 = 24.02 | fivefor1 = 3 | tenfor1 = 0 | best bowling1 = 5/26 | catches/stumpings1 = 36/– | column2 = LA | matches2 = 59 | runs2 = 188 | bat avg2 = 9.89 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 19* | deliveries2 = 2,769 | wickets2 = 78 | bowl avg2 = 30.00 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 4/20 | catches/stumpings2 = 24/– | column3 = T20 | matches3 = 37 | runs3 = 80 | bat avg3 = 26.66 | 100s/50s3 = 0/0 | top score3 = 29* | deliveries3 = 493 | wickets3 = 30 | bowl avg3 = 26.23 | fivefor3 = 1 | tenfor3 = 0 | best bowling3 = 5/12 | catches/stumpings3 = 26/–
| date = 24 May 2026 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/590913.html ESPNcricinfo }} '''William Salter Austen Williams''' (born 6 October 1992) is a New Zealand and English cricketer.<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/590913.html |title=Will Williams |access-date=18 January 2017|work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref><ref name="CA">{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1065/1065192/1065192.html |title=Will Williams |access-date=18 January 2017|work=Cricket Archive}}</ref> He made his List A debut for Canterbury on 18 January 2017 in the 2016–17 Ford Trophy.<ref name="LA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1051765.html |title=The Ford Trophy, Northern Districts v Canterbury at Hamilton, Jan 18, 2017 |access-date=18 January 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> He made his Twenty20 debut for Canterbury in the 2017–18 Super Smash on 14 December 2017.<ref name="T20">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1118535.html |title=2nd Match (D/N), Super Smash at Christchurch, Dec 14 2017 |access-date=14 December 2017 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>
A right-arm medium-fast bowler, Williams was the leading wicket-taker in the 2017–18 Plunket Shield season for Canterbury, with 19 dismissals in eight matches.<ref name="1718Plunket">{{Cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=12046;team=2520;type=tournament |title=Plunket Shield, 2017/18 - Canterbury: Batting and bowling averages |access-date=4 April 2018 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> In June 2018, he was awarded a contract with Canterbury for the 2018–19 season.<ref name="con1819">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23797021/central-districts-drop-jesse-ryder-contracts-list |title=Central Districts drop Jesse Ryder from contracts list |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=15 June 2018}}</ref> On 9 January 2020, in the 2019–20 Super Smash against the Wellington Firebirds, Williams took a hat-trick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/118693121/super-smash-unbeaten-wellington-blaze-crush-canterbury-magicians-for-ninth-win |title=Super Smash: Will Williams bags hat-trick, five wickets as Canterbury stun Wellington |work=Stuff |access-date=9 January 2020}}</ref>
In June 2020, he was offered a contract by Canterbury ahead of the 2020–21 domestic cricket season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/29312525/daryl-mitchell,-jeet-raval-finn-allen-major-domestic-moves |title=Daryl Mitchell, Jeet Raval and Finn Allen among major domestic movers in New Zealand |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/121831138/auckland-lose-jeet-raval-to-northern-districts-finn-allen-to-wellington-in-domestic-contracts |title=Auckland lose Jeet Raval to Northern Districts, Finn Allen to Wellington in domestic contracts |work=Stuff |access-date=15 June 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, in the second round of the 2020–21 Plunket Shield season, Williams took his first five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/123260878/plunket-shield-doug-bracewells-stunning-allround-performance-in-vain-as-auckland-win-again |title=Plunket Shield: Doug Bracewell's stunning all-round performance in vain as Auckland win again |work=Stuff |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref> In the next round of the tournament, he took another five-wicket haul, with 5/26 against Northern Districts.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/123328114/plunket-shield-canterburys-will-williams-claims-second-fivewicket-bag-in-as-many-weeks |title=Plunket Shield: Canterbury's Will Williams claims second five-wicket bag in as many weeks |work=Stuff |access-date=8 November 2020}}</ref>
In June 2022, Williams was signed on a short-term overseas contract by Lancashire County Cricket Club to play in the County Championship in England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61772763 |title=Will Williams: Lancashire sign New Zealander on short-term deal |work=BBC Sport |date=11 June 2022 |access-date=12 June 2022}}</ref> The following month, Williams was signed as a local player by Lancashire until the end of the 2025 season and ending his Canterbury career.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/62062048|title=Will Williams: Lancashire sign New Zealander as non-overseas player until 2025|work=BBC Sport|date=6 July 2022|accessdate=7 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/county-news-2022-will-williams-ends-canterbury-career-to-sign-up-with-lancashire-as-a-local-1323369|title=Will Williams ends Canterbury career to sign up with Lancashire as a local|work=ESPN Cricinfo|date=6 July 2022|accessdate=7 July 2022}}</ref>
In August 2025, it was announced that Williams would be moving to Gloucestershire after signing a three-year contract with the club starting in 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c5yp2pdyer9o|title=Gloucestershire sign seamer Williams for 2026|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=11 August 2025}}</ref>
In addition to his cricketing career, Williams is also a pilot.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/lancashire-premium/will_williams_ideally_suited_take_flight_county_championship_.html | title=Northamptonshire v Lancashire: Will Williams looks ideally suited to the County Championship | the Cricketer }}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=590913}}
{{Gloucestershire County Cricket Club squad}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Will}} Category:1992 births Category:Living people Category:English cricketers Category:New Zealand cricketers Category:New Zealand emigrants to the United Kingdom Category:Canterbury cricketers Category:Lancashire cricketers Category:Gloucestershire cricketers Category:Cricketers from Christchurch