Raymond Bailey

Raymond Reginald 'Ray' Bailey (born 16 May 1944) is an English former cricketer and footballer. He was born in Bedford, Bedfordshire, where he was educated and proved himself a sporting all rounder by captaining his school rugby team and playing in goal for the Bedfordshire Schools football team. Cricket As a cricketer, Bailey was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium and who could on occasion play as a wicket-keeper. He made his debut in county cricket for Bedfordshire against Staffordshire in the 1963 Minor Counties Championship. In 1964, he made his first-class debut for Northamptonshire in the 1964 County Championship against Kent. The following season, Bailey made his List A debut against Gloucestershire in the 1965 Gillette Cup. A capable bowler, Bailey played 48 first-class matches for Northamptonshire between 1964 and 1972. He took 105 wickets for Northamptonshire, which came at an average of 26.92, with him claiming 5 five wicket hauls and taking best figures of 5/25. Despite being a respectable performer with the ball, Bailey made infrequent appearances in first-class cricket for the county, making no more than 10 appearances in a season. His debut season was perhaps his most successful, with him taking 17 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 16.05, with 3 five wicket hauls. This season saw his best bowling figures, 5/25 against Hampshire. In his second season for Northamptonshire, Bailey was selected to play for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Yorkshire at Lord's, with him taking 3 wickets in the match. The beginning of his career saw the introduction and onset of List A cricket. He began making regular appearances in this format for Northamptonshire in the 3rd season of the John Player League. He made a total of 38 appearances in limited-overs cricket for the county, with his last match coming against Sussex in the 1973 John Player League. He took 39 wickets for Northamptonshire in List A cricket, which came at an average of 24.43. It was for Northamptonshire that he took his only five wicket haul in List A cricket, taking 6/22 against Hampshire in the 1972 John Player League, a season in which he took 25 wickets at an average of 15.16, the only season in which he took more than 8 wickets. His 6/22 is the fourth best innings bowling figures for Northamptonshire in List A cricket.