Michael Bates (English cricketer)

This article is about the English cricketer. For the New Zealand cricketer, see Michael Bates (New Zealand cricketer).

Michael Bates
Personal information
Full name
Michael David Bates
Born (1990-10-10) 10 October 1990 (age 34)
Frimley, Surrey, England
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2010–2014Hampshire (squad no. 16)
2015Wiltshire
2015Somerset
2016-presentWiltshire
FC debut15 April 2010 Hampshire v Oxford MCCU
Last FC14 June 2015 Somerset v Nottinghamshire
LA debut25 July 2010 Hampshire v Kent
Last LA21 August 2014 Hampshire v Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition FC LA T20
Matches 52 39 39
Runs scored 1,177 111 63
Batting average 19.94 10.09 10.50
100s/50s 1/5 0/0 0/0
Top score 103 24* 15
Catches/stumpings 149/7 25/4 18/10
Source: CricketArchive, 24 August 2015

Michael David Bates (born 10 October 1990) is an English cricketer. Bates is a right-handed batsman who plays as a wicket-keeper. Bates is regarded by some as England's best wicket-keeper, but consider his batting is not up to the same standards.[1]

Career

Youth

Bates was born in Frimley, Surrey, and was educated at Lord Wandsworth College, Hook, Hampshire. He joined Hampshire's under-10 academy team, and progressed through their youth ranks. Bates represented the England U-19 cricket team, playing one Youth Test match and ten Youth One Day Internationals. Bates played for England in the 2010 U-19 Cricket World Cup.

Hampshire: 2010-2014

Bates made his first-class debut for Hampshire against Oxford University at University Parks, Oxford in 2010. Bates was an integral part Hampshire's team that won the 2010 Friends Provident T20. Veteran keeper Nic Pothas' injury meant that Bates played a lot of matches in 2011, and whilst his batting was rarely needed his tidy work behind the stumps and especially the pressure he created standing up to the likes of Dominic Cork and Chris Wood was vital to winning. For the 2013 season, Hampshire signed wicket keeper/batsman Adam Wheater from Essex, which limited Bates to mainly T20 and 2nd XI cricket for the following two seasons. As a result, he was released at the end of the 2014 season on expiry of his contract.[2]

Somerset: 2015

After trials at Essex,[1] he signed for Minor Counties team Wiltshire. However, after the retirement of Craig Kieswetter due to injury, an out-of-form Alex Barrow and an injury to second choice 'keeper James Regan, after playing in a trial match for the second II, Bates signed a monthlong contract with Somerset in June 2015.[3] He made his debut for the county in the first-class match against Nottinghamshire.[4] His contract was extended to the end of the 2015 season on 5 July 2015 on the recommendation of Somerset's Director of Cricket Matthew Maynard,[5] but was not extended beyond that, and he was released. He subsequently rejoined Wiltshire for 2016.

Style and performance

Bates batting averages 21.2 in first-class cricket, scoring one century in his first 60 innings. His average is less in the shorter forms: 8.36 in List A games; 10.5 in T20. However, he averaged 3.5 catches per match as wicket keeper in 2010, a Hampshire record for a season.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wilson, Jack (16 March 2015). "EXCLUSIVE: Former Hampshire gloveman Michael Bates training with Essex". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  2. ^ "A21 | Cricket". Alloutcricket.com. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Tom Abell signs first professional deal with Somerset". Sky Sports. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Somerset v Nottinghamshire - Cricket - BBC Sport". Archived from the original on 28 June 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  5. ^ "Michael Bates Extends Stay - News - Somerset County Cricket Club". Archived from the original on 6 July 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2015.