22nd January 2022
| Mallory Gray
Wales NC will have a different leadership model for the 2022 season, with the captaincy being split between white and red ball formats.
Sam Pearce will continue to lead the team in both the NCCA T20 competition and NCCA One Day Trophy, whilst regular wicketkeeper batter Cameron Herring will be at the helm in the NCCA 3 Day Championship as Wales look to improve upon their red ball standing. Herring, 27 enjoyed one of his most productive of seasons in national counties cricket last summer amassing 459 runs at an average of 38.25 which included four half centuries, and a defiant 110 against Shropshire at Abergavenny. He claimed 18 dismissals across all formats to go alongside them. The former Gloucestershire staffer has been ever present for Wales since 2017 and is regarded highly as a senior figure in the group.
24 year old Pearce remains an integral member of the Wales side with bat, ball and in the field and is set to embark on his 8th season of national counties cricket after making his debut in 2014. He is currently 4th on the all time wicket takers in Championship cricket with 79 wickets at an average of 30.58, 2nd on the list for one day trophy wickets with 28 at an average of 26.96 and has amassed just shy of 1,500 runs across both 50 over and three day cricket. The leg spinner from Bridgend made his Glamorgan CCC debut in the T20 Blast last year and has firm aspirations to add some more caps to his name.
Speaking about the split captaincy Pearce had this to say, "Cam has been one of the senior players for a good few years now and has a great vision of the game. Him taking over the three day side will hopefully take us in the right direction we want going forward. It also allows me to focus on the one day and T20 competitions and hopefully keep building on what we did last year. I still feel I have lots of value as player across all formats and I look forward to supporting Cam and the lads in the best way I can, on and off the pitch."
Upon taking over red ball duties Herring said, "I'm really looking forward to it, and looking to improve on the positives of last year. Sam has done a very good job over the last few years, and it was obviously an honour to be asked to captain Wales, and I'm hoping I can have a positive impact. We now have an experienced group of players who have played a lot of cricket at this level (and higher), and I'm looking forward to inputting some fresh ideas ahead of what we want to be a successful campaign. Having had a good season personally last year, I know it will be tough to reach those levels again, but I believe I can manage the pressure and expectations coupled with my experience to reach them again this year."
Head of Talent Pathway Matt Thompson added, "It's right call for us with Sam and Cam being invaluable members of the group. Sam has so much to offer and we believe he can take his red ball game to new heights without the added leadership duties - especially after the busy-ness of the white ball formats early on in the year. Cam thoroughly deserves the captaincy, and we know he will do a great job as we look to climb into Division 1."
