Brad Wheal is a right-handed batter and right-arm pace bowler.
He was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal but holds a British passport and has recently moved to England, having been spotted by Dale Benkenstein, formerly Hampshire’s head coach.
The 22-year-old’s talent and potential was identified whilst playing for his home-town side and the promising youngster was offered a development contract for the 2015 season. It didn’t take long for Brad for make an impression as part of the Hampshire Second XI, before making his full debut that same year.
Wheal went on to make three more first-team appearances in 2015, taking best figures of 4-101 against Middlesex at Lord’s in June. His promising ability with the ball didn’t go unnoticed at a national level with Wheal picking up five wickets on his debut for Scotland A during their friendly against the MCC in August.
Having signed two-year deal at the end of the 2015 season, Wheal made key contributions with the ball in One-Day and Championship cricket for Hampshire during the 2016 summer, taking a career-best 6-51 in a crucial victory against Nottinghamshire as the team fought to stay in Division One.
The right-armer's highlight of the 2016 season was undoubtedly clinching a last-ball El Clasicoast win at Hove in July, when Hampshire defeated local rivals Sussex Sharks by a single run as Wheal prevented the home side from hitting five off the final over.
Wheal started 2017 off with Scotland in the United Arab Emirates taking part in the UAE Tri-Series and Desert Twenty20, gaining valuable international and overseas experience. The British summer saw Brad represent both Hampshire's First and Second XIs, notably reaching the Second XI Championship Final against Lancashire.
Upon returning to England, he bounced into the 2018 County season with much promise as he was selected as a starting First XI seam bowler, predominantly for Hampshire's Specsavers County Championship side, whilst representing the County for one Royal London One-Day Cup fixture against Essex.
Wheal's season was cut short towards the end of May in 2018 as he fell victim to a stress fracture in his spine before further injury caused him to miss all but three fixtures in 2019.
The paceman made a return in the truncated 2020 season, where he looked to bounce back from his long-term injury. He featured in three Bob Willis Trophy fixtures, claiming five wickets on his return to action.
In 2021, Wheal had his best season in a Hampshire shirt. 34 wickets in the County Championship at 26 apiece, forming a scary partnership with fellow quicks Abbas, Abbott and Barker to help push Hampshire to one wicket away from the title.
The 25 year-old was also a key contributor in the Blast campaign, taking 17 wickets as he impressed enough to be selected to feature in the Hundred for the London Spirit with Hampshire team mates Mason Crane and Chris Wood, coached by Hampshire legend Shane Warne.
At the end of the season it was announced that Wheal had been selected in Scotland's 2021 World Cup squad, to play on an international stage. Wheal has turned himself into one of the most skillful death bowlers across the county game, thanks to his ability to hit a consistent yorker.
In 2022, Wheal had limited opportunities in the County Championship side but provided impressive cover for Abbott, Abbas and Keith Barker when called upon.
Wheal took 14 red-ball wickets for three teams in 2022, as the Scottish pacer had loan spells at Gloucestershire and Warwickshire.
Wheal once again starred in the shortest format of the game. His 22 wickets in Hampshire Hawks' successful Vitality Blast campaign - which included a five-wicket haul against Glamorgan - was the most of any Hawks player.
In October, Wheal was selected to play for Scotland at the 2022 ICC T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia.
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