Rob BAILEY

Rob Bailey - England - Test Profile 1988-1990

Photo/Foto: George Herringshaw

Date: 13 August 1986

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    • POSITION
      Right Hand Bat
    • DATE OF BIRTH
      Monday, 28 October 1963
    • PLACE OF BIRTH
      Biddulph, England.
  • INTERNATIONAL
  • England
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Rob BAILEY - England - Test Profile 1988-1990

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