Ernest Bale

Ernest William Bale (18 September 1878 – 6 July 1952) was an English cricketer who played 148 first-class matches between 1904 and 1920, the great majority of these (138) being for Worcestershire, for whom he was the first-choice wicket-keeper for several years before the First World War. Roy Genders considered that Bale's keeping in 1911, when Worcestershire came ninth in the County Championship — their best finish until 1939 — "contributed greatly towards such an excellent season".

Bale played for Surrey's Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship as early as June 1902, but his first-class debut came exactly two years later, when he appeared for London County against Leicestershire at Crystal Palace Park. He had a quiet match, claiming the single dismissal of Harry Whitehead and scoring 4* and 22*. Later that month, Bale made his Surrey debut, against Oxford University at The Oval, and for the remainder of the season he divided his time between Surrey and London County.

There then followed a significant gap in his first-class career. London County's first-class days were at an end, and Bale had the misfortune to be a contemporary at Surrey with Herbert Strudwick. It soon became clear that the exceptional Strudwick was not likely to be dislodged as the county's regular keeper. Bale played a few times for Surrey's Second XI in 1905, but then determined to qualify for another county, Worcestershire.