George Bailey (cricketer, born 1853)

George Bailey

George Bailey in 1878
Personal information
Full name	George Herbert Bailey
Born	(1853-10-29)29 October 1853 Colombo, Ceylon
Died	10 October 1926(1926-10-10) (aged 72) Hobart, Tasmania
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm fast-medium roundarm
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1872–73 – 1892–93	Tasmania
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 15 Runs scored 367 Batting average 16.68 100s/50s 0/1 Top score 57* Balls bowled 320 Wickets 4 Bowling average 25.50 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 1/5 Catches/stumpings 9/–
Source: Cricket Archive, 24 December 2013

George Herbert Bailey (29 October 1853 – 10 October 1926) was an Australian cricketer who played first-class cricket for Tasmania from 1873 to 1893 and for the Australian team in England and North America in 1878.

Bailey was born in Colombo where his father, Canon Brooke Bailey, was a military chaplain and inspector of schools. He went to school at Lichfield Grammar School in England and Elizabeth College, Guernsey, where he captained the first eleven for two years. After he left school he followed his father to Tasmania in 1870. In 1872 he began his employment with the Union Bank of Australia.

He played for the Launceston Cricket Club and made his first appearance in the biannual Tasmanian intrastate matches between North and South in 1871–72. He took 6 for 52 opening the bowling for North in 1872–73, a match in which he also opened the batting. He made his first-class debut for Tasmania a few days later, batting at number three and opening the bowling against Victoria, but he was less successful this time, and Tasmania lost.

Although Tasmania did not play another interstate or first-class match until 1877–78, Bailey established a reputation as "a particularly forceful hitter, his favourite stroke being a powerful drive". His performances in Tasmania in that period included 101 for North against South in a one-wicket victory in 1875–76, and the match top score of 67 in an innings victory over South in 1876–77.

When his fellow Tasmanian John Arthur fell ill in 1877 and was unable to join the Australian touring team, Bailey was selected to replace him, the only Tasmanian in the 12-man side. The tour began in November 1877 with matches against various local teams in Australia, proceeded to New Zealand in early 1878, returned to Australia for a few games, then set sail for England.