He is the guy who is meant to plug up an end and hold the attack together; to spell the faster, younger guys and make sure the opposition does not pile on too many runs in the process.
That has not been the case this summer. The 29-year-old has suddenly been thrust into a position of leadership with the ball and he has responded.
He is Otago's joint leading wicket-taker (11 wickets at 30.90). Not a bad effort considering he nearly gave up bowling three years ago.
''VJ [Otago coach Vaughn Johnson] has to take a lot of credit for that,'' Wells said.
''When I was coming back from my knee injury I was on the verge of almost giving it up because it was going that badly.
''I was hardly bowling but VJ has worked long and hard ...
and really got me up to scratch so I'm able to put the ball in the same place over and over.''
The absence of Ian Butler (injury) and Neil Wagner (national duty) has stripped the Otago attack of much of its venom. The retirement of long-serving medium pacer Warren McSkimming last season has not helped either.
The Volts have been forced to rebuild and have a battery of young, fast bowlers coming through, but there have been teething pains.
Jacob Duffy (19) had tremendous success in the twenty20 tournament last season but has laboured at first-class level (14 wicket at 54.07). Blair Soper (22) has shown promise in eight first-class games for the province with 20 wickets at 37.50.
He can swing it both ways and has removed some quality batsmen. But he can be a bit erratic and struggles with his consistency.
Jimmy Neesham (23) is having a good season (11 wickets at 21).
But Otago has just 11 bowling bonus points - the lowest in the Plunket Shield.
The attack struggled in the eight-wicket loss to Wellington in Invercargill last week, with Duffy and Soper taking some punishment.
Wells had plenty of compassion for the pair. He is acutely aware of how tough first-class cricket can be.
''We've all been there. It is tough when you're young but unfortunately the only way to learn at this level is by getting hit. You soon learn where you can and can't bowl. They will learn a lot from that.
''We're all trying to get them through. We know they are good bowlers, that is the thing, but everyone has off days.''
While Wells is pleased with how his bowling is going, he is unhappy with his form with the bat. He has scored just 101 runs at 14.42, well below his career average of 33.63.
''I'm definitely struggling with the batting. It is something I'm working hard on. With increased bowling loads I've had less time to devote to my batting but that is the challenge of the all-rounder. You have to try and get both facets going.''
Wells will get a chance to improve his haul of runs this season when Otago hosts Central Districts at the University Oval today.
Otago has included left-arm spin bowler Nick Beard in a squad of 13. Opening batsman Neil Broom is in doubt after a bout of food poisoning, while fast bowler Blair Soper is nursing a minor shoulder injury.
Central has made one change from the side which drew with Auckland in Napier last week. Legspinner Tarun Nethula comes in for injured seamer Doug Bracewell (adductor strain).
Plunket Shield
University Oval, starts today
Otago: Neil Broom, Aaron Redmond, Michael Bracewell, Jesse Ryder, Sam Wells, Nathan McCullum, Jimmy Neesham, Derek De Boorder, Mark Craig, Blair Soper, James McMillan, Jacob Duffy, Nick Beard.
Central Districts: Jamie How, Ben Smith, Carl Cachopa, Will Young, Kieran Noema-Barnett, Peter Trego, Kruger van Wyk, Tarun Nethula, Adam Milne, Ben Wheeler, Ajaz Patel, Roald Badenhorst.
