William O’Donnell

William O'Donnell has been one of the best UK club professionals since his maiden season in 2016. With over 7,500 runs averaging low-50s, and over 250 wickets at 20s, it's unsurprising that he's one of the most sought-after overseas players on the market.

The batting all-rounder has been a star performer in ECB Premier League cricket – initially for Norwich in the East Anglia Premier League (2016-18 – 3,121 runs at 51.16 and 98 wickets at 22.06), before stints with Sussex Premier League side Three Bridges (2021-22 – 1,694 runs at 60.50 and 53 wickets at 23.06), Totteridge Millhillians in the Hertfordshire League (2023-25 – 1,996 runs at 51.18 and 74 wickets at 19.97), and most recently Dulwich in the Surrey Cricket Championship Division 1 (2026 – 945 runs at 55.59 and 36 wickets at 20.50).

In New Zealand, O'Donnell was a stand-out performer for the Auckland Aces across seven seasons. After making his first-class, and List A debuts in March 2019, and November 2018, respectively, it would be the 2020/21 season that'd prove to be his breakthrough summer.

The powerful opening batter finished top of the Ford Trophy (List A) run charts, hitting a century (106), and 6 fifties amongst 537 runs at 53.70. The trend continued in the Super Smash (T20), finishing as the Aces second leading run-scorer with 212 runs at 35.33. And, if his white-ball form wasn't enough, he replicated this, and then some, in the Plunket Shield, hitting centuries in each innings against Wellington, on his way to 375 runs at 75.

However, it was the way he went about his work, across all formats, that really impressed. He showed an innate ability to adapt to any situation. His 4 hour plus, and 200-ball, vigil against a Knights attack featuring Wagner, Sodhi, and Kuggeleijn to help the Aces save the game (finishing 51 not out), and his centuries in each innings (117, and 137*) against the Firebirds, highlighted his ability to bat time.

To counter that, he produced some explosive innings in white-ball cricket to evidence his power. Scores of 50 (44), 40 (30), and 38 (24) in 3 of his last 4 Super Smash matches, sandwiched between 6 fifties (including a 59-ball 79), and his maiden hundred (106 from 120 balls) in the Ford Trophy.

Roll on the 2021/22 season and his run-scoring trend continued hitting a further century (119*) amongst 335 runs at 41.87 in the Plunket Shield. Surprisingly, though, despite his success the previous summer he didn't feature in the Ford Trophy and only played 2 Super Smash games throughout the campaign. In 2022/23, he perhaps under-performed by his own high standards, averaging 29.14, and 26 in first-class, and List A, respectively, but made amends in 2023/24 with season averages of 32.46 (FC), 35.70 (List A), and 41.50 (T20), across the three formats.

With first-class and List A career averages of 35.49 and 33.35 respectively, it's no wonder O'Donnell was earmarked for higher honours during his time in New Zealand domestic cricket, having already earned New Zealand XI selection back in December 2018 against the touring Sri Lankans.

It's no surprise to hear cricket is O'Donnell's blood. His father is former Aces coach, Mark O'Donnell, whilst his brother Rob is also a domestic player (former Auckland skipper, now with Northern Districts).

No longer a contracted Auckland player, O'Donnell is exploring options for 2027 and is keen to pursue opportunities on the global circuit. With a proven, high-volume record across three continents, the all-rounder remains one of the most complete and in-demand professionals available.