In 2004, Wakely joined the staff of Northamptonshire whilst still in full-time education. He scored 81* on his Northamptonshire Second XI debut aged just 15. In July 2007, he made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire against Somerset. He made scores of 38 and 66, as well as taking two wickets including that of Marcus Trescothick.[3] He played three more first-class matches in 2007 but after scoring 55 against Nottinghamshire he managed only single figure scores in his last five innings. After that poor run of form, he had a spell in the second XI before returning to the first XI in 2009. On 16 June that year, Wakely scored his maiden first-class century against Glamorgan, scoring 113*.[4] For the 2010 season, Wakely was given more of a first team role and began to realise his potential with a century against Middlesex at Lord's.[5]
For the 2013 season, Wakely captained the Northants team in limited overs cricket. This proved to be a successful move; the team finished second in its group in the 40 over league,[6] and won the T20 competition.[7] Wakely played in all of the T20 matches that season and played a key role in the final, scoring 59 from 30 balls.[8]
He missed the whole of the 2014 season because of an Achilles tendon injury that he received during the club's pre-season tour of Barbados.[9]
He returned for the 2015 season recovered, and having been appointed captain in all forms of cricket.[10] He scored two first-class centuries in the season, including a personal highest score of 123 against Leicestershire.[11] Northants once again reached the final of the T20 competition, but this time lost to Lancashire.[12] The next year, Northants returned to Twenty20 finals day with Wakely again captain, and were this time victorious. He was involved in century partnerships in both the semi-final and the final. In the semi, against Notts he and Ben Duckett took Northants from 15/3 to 138/4, himself scoring 53 from 45 balls.[13] The final was versus Durham, and Wakely came in to bat with the score at 9/3, and shared in a partnership of 120 with Josh Cobb.[14]
Wakely was picked for the England under-19s tour of Sri Lanka in 2006/07. He scored England's only century of the tri-nation series with 108 from 140 balls against Sri Lanka. In August, he scored a century on his 'Test' debut for England under-19s against Pakistan. On 1 October 2007, he was selected as the England under-19s captain for the 2008 World Cup[15]
