Towering at 6ft 91/2 ins, Will Jefferson made big strides for Essex from his debut in 2000 before moving north to Trent Bridge at the end of 2006. An opening batsman with a range of attacking strokes, Jefferson excelled at school and university level, and announced himself in county cricket with his first full season with Essex in 2002. He scored nearly 800 runs at an average of little under 40, including a match-winning 165 not out against Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford to seal Essex's promotion to Division One. That innings also earned him his county cap. But he suffered from a string of injury problems and found himself unable to secure a regular place, and at the end of 2006 he left Essex by mutual consent to join Nottinghamshire. He suffered an unfortunate injury when he put his hand through a window and severed tendons in his hand, but with some consistent performances before another move, this time to Leicestershire. England Lions is as far as he has managed for national honours.
Cricinfo staff September 2010