The Greatest Player of Every Decade

The 1880s:

Bates played a big part in "resurrecting" English cricket after 1882

Willie Bates (ENG)

As the frequency of Test matches increased, the first great players began to emerge. WG Grace, Fred Spofforth, George Bonnor, Allan Steel and Johnny Briggs were among those who cemented their place in cricketing history during this decade. But outperforming them all was Willie Bates.

Bates was perhaps not as naturally gifted as some of his counterparts, yet he honed his game to be a deadly off-spinner and a more than useful batsman who occasionally opened for England.

In just 10 years of first-class cricket, Bates accumulated 10249 runs, while also taking 874 wickets. But it was in international games where Bates delivered his best.

Bates played all his 15 Tests in the 1880s, finishing his career with a batting average of 27.33, and a miserly bowling average of 16.42. The likes of Spofforth and Grace may be more celebrated nowadays, but Bates's brilliant record shows that he should at least be considered their equals.

Bates's finest moment came at the MCG in 1883. Batting at nine, Bates made it clear he should be higher up the order as he came in at nine and made 55 to help England reach 294.

Yet it was with the ball that Bates truly shone, as he took seven wickets in each of Australia's innings to consign the home side to an innings defeat. This was no meagre batting line-up either, as Australia's side included the likes of William Murdoch, Alexander Bannerman, George Bonnor and Percy McDonnell.

Bates may have stretched his brilliant performances into further decades if it was not for a terrible accident. While bowling in the nets in Australia he was struck in the eye when a ball he had delivered was forcefully driven back at him. The damage this did to his eye was both profound and permanent, as Bates would never play a first-class game again.

In the aftermath of the accident, Bates would struggle severely with depression. He passed away at just 44, a similar age to when his contemporaries were just calling time on their first-class careers. Yet despite its tragic end, for the years Bates did play, he shone.