Bill Bell (cricketer)

{{Short description|New Zealand cricketer (1931–2002)}}

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

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2013}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Bill Bell

| image = Bill_Bell_1953.jpg

| caption = Bell in 1953

| imagesize =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1931|9|5|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|7|23|1931|9|5|df=yes}}

| death_place = Auckland, New Zealand

| international = true

| internationalspan = 1954

| country = New Zealand

| testdebutagainst = South Africa

| testdebutdate = 1 January

| testdebutyear = 1954

| testcap = 66

| lasttestdate = 5 February

| lasttestagainst = South Africa

| lasttestyear = 1954

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Legbreak

| columns = 2

| column1 = Test

| matches1 = 2

| runs1 = 21

| bat avg1 = –

| 100s/50s1 = 0/0

| top score1 = 21*

| deliveries1 = 491

| wickets1 = 2

| bowl avg1 = 117.50

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/54

| catches/stumpings1= 1/–

| column2 = First-class

| matches2 = 21

| runs2 = 170

| bat avg2 = 10.00

| 100s/50s2 = 0/0

| top score2 = 22

| deliveries2 = 3,451

| wickets2 = 44

| bowl avg2 = 40.52

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/31

| catches/stumpings2= 15/–

| date = 1 April

| year = 2017

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36295.html Cricinfo

}}

William Bell (5 September 1931 – 23 July 2002) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Canterbury, Auckland and New Zealand from 1949 to 1959.

Bell attended Christchurch Boys' High School.{{cite journal |title=High School Cricket Coach Retires |journal=Press |date=7 May 1959 |page=12 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19590507.2.97.1}} A leg spin and googly bowler and lower-order batsman, Bell had played only five first-class games when he was picked for the New Zealand tour of South Africa in 1953-54 when regular spinner Alex Moir was left out of the touring party. An early return of four wickets against Eastern Province suggested he might do well, but in two Test match appearances, at Cape Town and Port Elizabeth, he took just two wickets, and was never picked again.Wisden 2003, p. 1614.