A controversial catch in the West Indies ended Rob Bailey's Test career
almost as soon as it had begun. He had scored 42 in the non-enviable
position of England's number three at the time, but after the 1990 tour
of the West Indies he was never chosen again. Bailey had waited
patiently for his Test chance after becoming a heavy scorer for
Northamptonshire in the late 1980s. He knew the selectors were watching
him, as he had been chosen as one of a crop of promising youngsters who
went to Sharjah in 1984-85 in an unlikely England team captained by John
Emburey.
It was there he made his ODI debut, but he was not seriously
called to the colours until 1988 when English batsmen were falling like
ninepins to the West Indies pace quarter. He played in the last Test at
the Oval scoring 43 and 3. A few weeks later he scored 43 not out in an
ODI against Sri Lanka and was chosen to tour India under the captaincy
of Graham Gooch that winter. It looked as if he had grabbed his chance,
but the tour was cancelled by the Indians because of South African
connections amongst the England team. He did not get a Test amid the
turmoil of the Ashes series of 1989, but was recalled for the tour. His
plunging, front-foot style made him look more uncomfortable than he
probably was against short-pitched bowling. He played in just two Tests
and scored 42 in an ODI which replaced the washed-out Guyana Test. (Bob Harragan)
1982–1999 Northamptonshire
2000–2001 Derbyshire
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