Blair Soper
Personal information
Full name
Blaire Early Soper
Born (1991-10-26) 26 October 1991
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingLeft-arm fast
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2012/13–2018/19Otago
Source: Cricinfo, 8 February 2016

Blair Earle Soper (born 26 October 1991) is a New Zealand cricketer who has played for Otago in top-level matches.[1]

Soper was born at Dunedin in 1991 and grew up in Southland before moving to as a child Dunedin due to his father, Ewan's, work. He was educated at Otago Boys' High School. His uncle, Grant Soper, played Hawke Cup cricket for Southland[2] and Soper played age-group cricket for Otago and in 2009 featured in a trial match for selection for the national under-19 side before being selected in the preliminary New Zealand squad for the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[3][4] As well as cricket, Soper represented Otago age-group sides in field hockey.[4]

Soper made his first-class debut on 12 November 2012 in the 2015–16 Plunket Shield.[5] After playing in four Plunket Shield matches during the season and taking 12 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Wellington,[6] the "promising up-and-comer" was awarded a contract with Otago in July for the following season.[7] He established himself as a regular in Otago's Shield side, playing in the team's first six matches of the season, before a shoulder injury meant he was unable to play.[8]

The injury required surgery and Soper lost his place in the side. He played in one Shield match towards the end of the 2015–16 season but only bowled 7.3 overs before suffering another injury.[8][9] He returned to the side in November 2019 and played in two List A matches, making debut on 21 November 2019 against Wellington in the 2019–20 Ford Trophy, replacing the injured Michael Rae.[3][10][11] He took a wicket in the first over of the Wellington innings, his only List A wicket.[12]

Soper has played club cricket for Green island Cricket Club. Whilst out of the Otago side he studied an automotive course at Otago Polytechnic and works as a mechanic.[8][9][13]

References

  1. ↑ "Blair Soper". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  2. ↑ Savory L (2013) Caveman look 'working so far' for Blair Soper, Stuff, 14 December 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Blair Soper, CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 June 2023. (subscription required)
  4. 1 2 Otago Boys High School: Blair Soper, Otago Daily Times, 9 September 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "Plunket Shield, Otago v Canterbury at Dunedin, Nov 12-15, 2012". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  6. ↑ Seconi A (2013) Cricket: Soper, Rutherford shine for Otago, Otago Daily Times, 25 February 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  7. ↑ Seconi A (2013) Cricket: Surprises not expected in remaining 13 spots, Otago Daily Times, 24 July 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  8. 1 2 3 Seconi A (2019) Soper 'happy to be back' after long break, Otago Daily Times, 21 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. 1 2 van Royen R (2016) Cricket: First game for Soper since 2014, Otago Daily Times, 24 May 2016. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  10. ↑ "The Ford Trophy at Invercargill, Nov 21 2019". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  11. ↑ Seconi A (2019) Broom back, Soper in for injured Rae, Otago Daily Times, 20 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Firebirds bounce back in Queenstown, Cricket Wellington, 21 November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Middle & Leg: Small shorts, big beards & the John drought, New Zealand Herald, November 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
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