[1] Wheater was born at Leytonstone in 1990 and educated at Millfield School and at Anglia Ruskin University.

Wheater spent the first few seasons of his professional career at Essex as understudy to James Foster.

Wheater spent the winter of 2010/11 playing for Zimbabwean franchise Matabeleland Tuskers.

Wheater fielded at slip or point while Foster, being the senior and superior gloveman, kept wicket.

Frustrated with his lack of wicket-keeping opportunities at Essex, he bought himself out of his contract and moved to Hampshire.