Arthur Wellard

{{Short description|English cricketer}}

{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Arthur Wellard

| country = England

| fullname = Arthur William Wellard

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1902|04|08|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Southfleet, Kent, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1980|12|31|1902|04|08|df=yes}}

| death_place = Eastbourne, Sussex, England

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast-medium

| role = All-rounder

| international = true

| testdebutdate = 24 July

| testdebutyear = 1937

| testdebutagainst = New Zealand

| testcap = 296

| lasttestdate = 24 June

| lasttestyear = 1938

| lasttestagainst = Australia

| club1 = Somerset

| year1 = {{nowrap|1927–1950}}

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 2

| runs1 = 47

| bat avg1 = 11.75

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 38

| deliveries1 = 456

| wickets1 = 7

| bowl avg1 = 33.85

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 4/81

| catches/stumpings1 = 2/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 417

| runs2 = 12,485

| bat avg2 = 19.72

| 100s/50s2 = 2/59

| top score2 = 112

| deliveries2 = 89,738

| wickets2 = 1614

| bowl avg2 = 24.35

| fivefor2 = 108

| tenfor2 = 24

| best bowling2 = 8/52

| catches/stumpings2 = 377/–

| date = 10 October

| year = 2009

| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/700/Test_Matches.html CricketArchive

}}

Arthur William Wellard (8 April 1902 – 31 December 1980) was a cricketer who played for Somerset and England. A late starter in county cricket, having been told by his native county, Kent, that he would be better off taking up a career as a policeman, Wellard played on into his late 40s.{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155432.html |title=Obituary: Arthur Wellard |publisher=Wisden |year=1982 |accessdate=18 October 2009}} He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1936.{{cite web |url-access=subscription |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/700/700.html |title=Player Profile:Arthur Wellard |publisher=CricketArchive |accessdate=18 October 2009}}

Wellard was a fast-bowling all-rounder who exemplified much of the happy-go-lucky cricket played by Somerset in the 1930s. Despite a first-class batting average of only 19.72, he was famous for the number of sixes he hit, with over 500 in his career, accounting for a quarter of his runs. He was for many years the holder of the record number of sixes in a single season, with 72 in 1935. But Wellard as a fast bowler was good enough to be picked twice for England, against New Zealand in 1937 and against the Australians in 1938, and his 1,614 career wickets put him 63rd on the all-time bowling lists. Wellard was chosen in the England team to play three Tests in India in 1939–40, but the tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II.{{cite web |title=Test Cricket Tours - England to India 1939-40 |url=http://test-cricket-tours.co.uk/page_3116501.html |website=Test-cricket-tours.co.uk |accessdate=28 January 2019}}