Riki Wessels is the son of the former Australia and South Africa player and former Northants coach Kepler Wessels. He established himself at Wantage Road as a talented wicketkeeper-batsman after scoring a maiden first-class century in 2005 against Somerset.

Wessels had to be released by Northants at the end of 2009 when the ECB criteria on Kolpak qualification were tightened. He moved to Zimbabwe to play for the Mid West Rhinos, but was pursued by Nottinghamshire, who wanted a back-up wicketkeeper for Chris Read who could also add to their batting resources. Controversially, they exploited a loophole that enabled Wessels to join the county on an Entrepreneur Visa in April 2011. The rules were altered specifically to exclude sportsmen shortly afterwards.

After modest first-class returns in 2011, when he averaged 20.21 from 10 matches, he enjoyed a much more successful 2012 season, particularly in first-class cricket, where he began in the middle order but later established himself as an opener. His aggregate of 905 runs was his biggest in England, as was his average of 45.25. His three first-class centuries included a career-best 199 against Sussex at Hove.
ESPNcricinfo staff