Rob Bailey was a very unlucky cricketer. Played against the 1988 West Indies side and was selected to India the 88/89 winter. That was then cancelled due to players who had been picked having links to South Africa, including captain Gooch (who’d been on the rebel tour and had only turned down the chance to winter with Western Province because he had the captaincy) and indeed Bailey himself, who had spent a winter in South Africa as an 18 year old.
By the time the 1989 Ashes came around Bailey was enduring a poor county season and didn’t get a look in, although he improved his form in late summer to bag a place on the 1990 tour to the West Indies. He had in the meantime refused an offer to go on the Gatting Rebel Tour.
Not picked for the first test, he came in for the 3rd due to Hussain’s injury and played the last 3 tests. He got a shocking decision in the 4th test when Viv Richards intimidated Lloyd Barker into giving him out, and a gutsy 40 in the 5th test couldn’t save England from defeat.
And despite the bans to the likes of Gatting and Maynard, the struggles of Hick and Ramprakash, and the time it took Stewart, Atherton and Hussain to establish themselves in the side, England never came calling again.
They should have, but they didn’t.
- Graham Gooch
- -
- Mark Butcher
- Robin Smith
- Rob Bailey
- -
- Chris Read
- -
- Dean Headley
- Darren Gough
- Phil Tufnell
it’s now back to @Yash.
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Fair; I get the impression that I was more remembering Ilott the county bowler, who I have a vague recollection of being a pretty potent opponent whenever he came up against Northants.
Either that or all this 90s selection is rotting my brain
I may be being harsh here, but when I put together a “England Worst 90s” XI for Cricket 19 the attack was Igglesden, McCague, Illott and Salisbury.