Blues spinner to return to New Zealand

New South Wales off-spinner Will Somerville has been released from his Blues contract and will instead line up for Auckland Aces in a bid to win international selection for New Zealand.

Wellington-born Somerville was included on Auckland’s contract list on Friday, with NSW confirming they’d released the 33-year-old to allow him to pursue greater opportunities across the ditch.

Somerville was the Blues’ leading wicket taker in the JLT Sheffield Shield in 2016-17, taking 35 wickets at 23.14 in seven matches.

But with Australian Test spinner Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe also in the Blues ranks his opportunities were fewer last summer, playing just one first-class match.

In 12 Sheffield games across four seasons Somerville claimed 48 wickets at an average of 25.29.

“I appreciate being allowed the opportunity to pursue my professional career in New Zealand,” Somerville said.

“It has been a tough decision, but one I hope will be best for me personally and of course my family.

“Everyone in the Blues has been great to me as a cricketer and more importantly as a colleague and friend. I shall miss them, but leave with very fond memories. 

“It has been a life-changing few years for me.”

Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones thanked Somerville for his contribution to the Blues and wished him well in New Zealand.

“We would love to have kept Will at NSW, as he is a terrific cricketer and even better bloke,” Jones said.

“However we want all our players to achieve their potential in the game hence we fully support Will’s effort to play at the next level.

“We will all be very proud if and when Will makes his debut for New Zealand.”

Somerville, who is a dual citizen of Australia and New Zealand, played his junior cricket in Sydney before moving to New Zealand for University, where he made his first-class debut for Otago in 2005.

He later returned to Sydney where he was called into the NSW Blues team for the start of the 2014-15 Shield season.