Ben Sears Bio
Benjamin Vincent Sears is a New Zealand international cricketer who plays as a right-arm medium-fast bowler for the Wellington domestic side. A right-handed batter who bats in the lower order, he is known for his aggressive wicket-taking ability in limited-overs formats. Sears made his international debut for New Zealand in September 2021 and has represented the national team in Twenty20 Internationals, One Day Internationals, and Test cricket.
Sears rose through the Wellington ranks in the late 2010s and became a regular in the national side’s white-ball squads. His international journey has been marked by a match-winning spell against Pakistan in 2023, a four-wicket haul on his Test debut against Australia in 2024, and consistent wicket-taking form in the shortest format.
Early Life and Background
Benjamin Vincent Sears was born on 11 February 1998 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He grew up in the greater Wellington region, an area well known for producing competitive club and provincial cricketers. From a young age, he developed a strong interest in fast bowling, and his progress through age-group cricket in the Hutt Valley laid the foundation for his future career.
His connection to the sport runs through his family. His father, Michael Sears, also played for Wellington during the 1990s, giving the younger Sears direct exposure to professional-level cricket from an early age. This family background helped him understand the demands of provincial cricket and the standards required to progress to higher honours.
Before turning professional, Sears balanced his development with school-level cricket, where his pace and accuracy drew the attention of regional selectors. His early performances for Wellington age-group teams positioned him as one of the more promising fast-bowling prospects in the country.
Path to Cricket
Sears was named in New Zealand’s squad for the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, an early indication of his standing within the country’s junior pathway. The experience of competing at an international youth tournament gave him valuable exposure to high-level batting line-ups and varied conditions.
He made his List A debut for Wellington in the 2018–19 Ford Trophy on 24 October 2018, marking his entry into senior domestic cricket. A few months later, on 6 December 2018, he made his first-class debut in the Plunket Shield, and on 31 December 2018, he played his first Twenty20 match in the Super Smash. These three domestic debuts within a single season highlighted his rapid rise.
In June 2020, Wellington offered Sears a contract ahead of the 2020–21 domestic season, formalising his place in the provincial setup. In November 2020, he was selected in the New Zealand A squad for practice matches against the touring West Indies side, further strengthening his case for higher honours.
Ben Sears Career
Early Career (2018–2021)
During his first two full seasons with Wellington, Sears worked primarily as a strike bowler in the Super Smash and Ford Trophy. His ability to bowl at a lively pace and extract movement with the new ball made him a regular in the side’s white-ball plans.
His progress was rewarded with selection in New Zealand’s Twenty20 International squad for the 2021 tour of Bangladesh. He made his T20I debut on 3 September 2021 against Bangladesh, becoming a fully capped international cricketer at the age of 23. Later that year, he was also included in the squad for the tour of Pakistan.
International Breakthrough (2022–2024)
In August 2022, Sears was called up as a replacement for Matt Henry, who was ruled out of the West Indies tour with a rib injury. The opportunity allowed him to gain further international experience in varied conditions.
His most decisive T20I performance came in December 2023 during the third T20I against Bangladesh. Sears produced a match-winning spell of 2 for 28 in four overs, helping New Zealand seal the series. The performance established him as a reliable wicket-taking option in the shortest format.
In March 2024, Sears was added to the Test squad as injury cover for the second Test against Australia. He made his Test debut and, in the second innings, claimed four wickets for 90 runs, including key dismissals that briefly pushed New Zealand into contention. He was subsequently named as a reserve player for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
ODI Debut and T20 World Cup (2025–2026)
Sears made his ODI debut on 8 February 2025 against Pakistan, finishing with strong returns in his early one-day appearances. He went on to play against Pakistan again in April 2025, establishing himself as a regular wicket-taking option in the 50-over format.
In March 2025, Sears joined Yorkshire County Cricket Club as one of their overseas players for the county championship season, gaining valuable red-ball experience in English conditions. He also represented Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket during 2025, broadening his franchise exposure.
He was a member of the New Zealand squad that finished as runners-up at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. He also featured in the 2026 Rawalpindiz squad in franchise cricket, reflecting his continued presence across multiple T20 leagues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Note: This profile covers a cricketer. Below are his playing characteristics in place of driving style. Sears is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who relies on pace, seam movement, and accuracy with the new ball. He is particularly effective in the powerplay and at the death, where he can bowl hard lengths and vary his pace. His lower-order batting has occasionally produced useful runs in tight situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sears’s most notable international moment came in December 2023, when he delivered a match-winning spell against Bangladesh in the third T20I. His four-wicket haul on Test debut against Australia in March 2024, finishing with 4 for 90 in the second innings, remains another career highlight. He was also part of the New Zealand squad that reached the final of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Ben Sears Career Wins
Across his international and domestic career, Benjamin Vincent Sears has built a reputation as a consistent wicket-taker in white-ball formats. His most celebrated win came during the 2023 Bangladesh T20I series, while his Test debut against Australia produced a standout four-wicket performance. He has also contributed to Wellington’s domestic campaigns and to overseas franchise sides.
International Highlights
In T20 Internationals, Sears has claimed 33 wickets across 28 matches at a bowling average of 21.12, with a best of 3 for 14. In One Day Internationals, he has taken 10 wickets across four matches at an average of 19.70, with a best of 5 for 34 and two five-wicket hauls. In his sole Test appearance, he finished with five wickets in the match, including a second-innings return of 4 for 90.
Other Wins and Performances
At domestic level, Sears has been part of Wellington’s Super Smash and Ford Trophy campaigns since the 2018–19 season. He has also represented New Zealand A, Yorkshire in the County Championship during 2025, and Washington Freedom in Major League Cricket, while featuring for Rawalpindiz in 2026.
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 1 | 5 | 4/90 | 32.20 |
| ODI | 4 | 10 | 5/34 | 19.70 |
| T20I | 28 | 33 | 3/14 | 21.12 |
| First-class | 24 | 72 | 6/43 | 27.94 |
Ben Sears Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Note: This profile covers a cricketer. Below is his family background in place of racing lineage. Benjamin Vincent Sears comes from a cricketing family. His father, Michael Sears, played for Wellington in the 1990s, giving the family a direct connection to New Zealand’s domestic cricket structure. This background helped shape Benjamin’s early development and his understanding of professional cricket.
Personal Life
Benjamin Vincent Sears was born and raised in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He continues to be associated with Wellington, where he began his senior career in 2018. Details about his marital status, spouse, and children are not publicly confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Benjamin Vincent Sears began 2025 strongly, making his ODI debut against Pakistan on 8 February 2025 and recording impressive returns that included his first five-wicket haul in the format. The performances reinforced his value as a wicket-taking option in New Zealand’s 50-over plans.
In March 2025, he joined Yorkshire as an overseas player for the County Championship, gaining valuable red-ball experience in English conditions. The stint allowed him to refine his seam-bowling skills and build match fitness ahead of the international summer.
He also represented Washington Freedom during the 2025 Major League Cricket season, adding franchise experience to his calendar. With his ODI place secured and his T20I role expanding, Sears entered the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup cycle as a key member of New Zealand’s white-ball attack.
