William Ingleby Jefferson (born October 25, 1979) is a professional cricketer who plays for Essex County Cricket Club. He was educated at Oundle School. Standing about 6 foot 10 inches (2.08 m) tall,Sources differ as to his height. Cricinfo gives 6 ft 9½ in, the ECB and many other sources give 6 ft 10 in, and Essex County Cricket Club gives 6 ft 10½ in. he is the tallest player in county cricket, and probably the tallest professional cricketer ever.

Jefferson was born in Derby to a cricketing family; his father Richard Jefferson played first-class cricket for Surrey.

Jefferson is a right-handed opening batsman and a reliable slip fielder. He showed his promise at school and university level, and made his first-class debut for British Universities against the touring Zimbabweans in 2000. His first full season at Essex was 2002, during which he scored 815 first-class runs; his 165 not out in the final match of the seasonEssex vs Nottinghamshire, 18–21 September 2002 from CricketArchive made a major contribution to Essex winning the second division of the County Championship.

His best season so far was 2004, in which he scored 1555 first-class runs at an average of 55.53 with 6 centuries including a high score of 222.Jefferson's first-class batting averages by season from CricketArchive In 2005, a slump in form saw him relegated to the Essex Second XI, but he responded with 303 not out against MCC Young Cricketers,Essex Second XI v Marylebone Cricket Club Young Cricketers, 10–12 August 2005 from CricketArchive and regained his place in the first team.

Before the start of the 2006 season, he suffered a freak accident, cutting his left wrist whilst trying to open a window, and severing the tendons.Jefferson suffers freak injury from Cricinfo

Notes