Domestic
In 2004,Wakely joined the staff of Northamptonshire whilst still in full-time education. He scored 81* on his Northamptonshire Second XI debut aged just 15. In July 2007,he made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire against Somerset. He made scores of 38 and 66,as well as taking two wickets including that of Marcus Trescothick. [3] He played three more first-class matches in 2007 but after scoring 55 against Nottinghamshire he managed only single figure scores in his last five innings. After that poor run of form,he had a spell in the second XI before returning to the first XI in 2009. On 16 June that year,Wakely scored his maiden first-class century against Glamorgan,scoring 113*. [4] For the 2010 season,Wakely was given more of a first team role and began to realise his potential with a century against Middlesex at Lord's. [5]
For the 2013 season,Wakely captained the Northants team in limited overs cricket. This proved to be a successful move;the team finished second in its group in the 40 over league, [6] and won the T20 competition. [7] Wakely played in all of the T20 matches that season and played a key role in the final,scoring 59 from 30 balls. [8]
He missed the whole of the 2014 season because of an Achilles tendon injury that he received during the club's pre-season tour of Barbados. [9]
He returned for the 2015 season recovered,and having been appointed captain in all forms of cricket. [10] He scored two first-class centuries in the season,including a personal highest score of 123 against Leicestershire. [11] Northants once again reached the final of the T20 competition,but this time lost to Lancashire. [12] The next year,Northants returned to Twenty20 finals day with Wakely again captain,and were this time victorious. He was involved in century partnerships in both the semi-final and the final. In the semi,against Notts he and Ben Duckett took Northants from 15/3 to 138/4,himself scoring 53 from 45 balls. [13] The final was versus Durham,and Wakely came in to bat with the score at 9/3,and shared in a partnership of 120 with Josh Cobb. [14]
