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Bailey, James (‘Jim’) (246) born 6.4.1908, Otterbourne, Hants, died 10.2.1988 Southampton. Jim Bailey was a genuine all-rounder, left-handed batsman, slow-left-arm bowler and the last man to complete the first-class ‘double’ for the county. He was part of a generation of talented individuals who replaced the great professionals of Tennyson’s side. Despite the individual talents of Bailey and his contemporaries such as Arnold, Herman, McCorkell, Creese and Hill, only once in Bailey’s long career from 1927-1952 did Hampshire finish in the top half of the table, when they were eighth in 1932. His own career was somewhat up-and-down; he made his Hampshire debut in July 1927 just three months after his 19th birthday and played in five matches that season, albeit with little success. In fact it would be 1931 before he established himself as a batsman with almost 1,000 runs and in the following season he took 76 wickets, including a remarkable analysis of 7-7 v Nottinghamshire at Southampton, which remained his best bowling. There were centuries in 1931 and 1933 but his bowling fell away and he took just eight wickets in that latter season.
Seeking a solution he moved to Middlesex to qualify by residence – he was still just 26 and played for their 2nd XI and occasional first-class matches for MCC, but he had joined Middlesex as players like the Compton brothers, Bill Edrich and Jack Robertson were coming through, and after two years he joined Lancashire League side Accrington as a professional, and became the first English ‘pro’ to score 1,000 runs in a season. Most of his matches were at weekends so in 1938, a weak Hampshire side persuaded him to play for them in northern mid-week fixtures. He began with 44 & 69 at Edgbaston and was reasonably successful, although hardly bowling, and in 1939 he rejoined the county (31). It proved to be his best season as a batsman with 1329 runs at 32.41, including one century and eight half-centuries, to which he added 44 wickets, including a best of 6-72 v Leicestershire, the bottom side, two places below Hampshire.
Like everyone else, Bailey then missed six seasons, returning at the age of 36. He played regularly for the next four seasons, during which he took 295 wickets alongside fellow spinners Charlie Knott and Gerry Hill. In addition he passed 1,000 runs in three of those four seasons, with 921 in 1947. In 1948, his 1399 runs (31.79) and 121 wickets (18.13) gave him the ‘double’, the first since Jack Newman in 1928 and never repeated – only Newman, Bailey, Alec Kennedy and CB Llewellyn have achieved that feat for the county. Bailey was talked of a possible England player.
In the event he played for just one further season, with 1254 runs and 86 wickets and retired at the age of 41, although he returned as a bowler for one match at Edgbaston in 1952. After rain had ruined the first two days, his long career ended with him taking three top-order wickets in a drawn game. His career had begun with Tennyson’s great players and concluded alongside Harrison, Gray and Shackleton who would win county cricket’s greatest prize nine years later. He remained in Southampton, was at one time on the Committee and was always entertaining company, watching his county play.
Bailey, Michael John (384) born 1.8.1954 Cheltenham. Michael Bailey was principally an off-spin bowler who played for Hampshire in 20 first-class and three List A matches from 1979-1982, and subsequently for Wiltshire and Herefordshire. He had little success in those matches for Hampshire apart from his best figures of 5-89 v Northamptonshire at Wellingborough in the very weak side of 1980 that finished bottom of the table. His innings of 24 in that match was also his highest first-class score, but neither contribution could prevent an eight-wicket defeat.
Bailey, WP is listed by Tigger and by Cricket Archive. Tigger shows him as playing one first-class match, Cricket Archive does not – everything is listed under ‘Miscellaneous’. I shall investigate further.
PS Sorry, entirely wrong. Got myself waylaid by a different W Bailey who played for Players of Hampshire, Southampton Union and Hampshire (non first-class). WP Bailey played for Gentlemen of Hants, East Hants Club, Southampton Union and Gentlemen of South Hampshire around the same time (1860s) – although given the absence of information about WP, I can’t help wondering whether they might be the same person. Anyway Tigger’s WP Bailey played for Hampshire v Middlesex at Islington’s Cattle Market in July 1864. He opened the batting but scored just 4 & 10 as Hampshire lost by an innings. That was his only first-class match.
PPS: No, different people. WP and W played together for the 22 players of Southampton Union v the English Eleven at the Antelope, Southampton in June 1864 (not first-class).
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Hampshire Cricket History 
On page 9 of the history “150 Not Out” there is an explanation of the years when Hampshire played what is regarded as first-class cricket. In summary, the years are 1864-1867, 1869-1870, 1875-1878, 1880-1885 and then from 1895 onwards. Not every Hampshire match played in those periods was necessarily first-class. Those that were, are clearly listed on Cricket Archive.
Comment by pompeypop October 19, 2017 @ 5:21 pmClarification: Jim Bailey Middlesex/Lord’s/MCC in 1934 & 1935 then Accrington for three seasons 1936-1938 during which he began playing again for Hampshire. He never played for Middlesex in a first-class match.
Comment by pompeypop October 20, 2017 @ 7:02 amIt suspends belief that Hampshire lost the match in which Jim Bailey took 7-7 by the substantial margin of 161 runs. It was an extraordinary match, played on a rain affected pitch throughout. Notts, who won the toss, made 206 (Bailey 4-40), whilst the pitch was at its best, and 42. Hampshire were dismissed for 57 and 30. Twelve wickets fell for 31 runs in 85 minutes on the third morning. Hampshire did not surrender meekly in either innings. In the first, they batted for 53.3 overs and, in the second, for 26.3 overs. Notts bowled a total of 39 maidens over the two innings, just under 50 pc of the overs bowled. The only Hampshire batsman to reach double figures was Alec Kennedy (13) in the first innings. Other quirks of the match were that Philip Mead (0 and 5) was captain, and the only man to record a “pair” was Stuart Boyes. Harold Larwood bowled only 5 overs in the match. Notts destroyers were Bill Voce (9-50 match) and Sam Staples (10-21match). Bailey and Staples were presented with inscribed balls. Staples later became Hampshire’s coach. I remember Jim Bailey walking around the County Ground during Hampshire’s matches in the 70s and 80s, invariably in the company of Neville Rogers.
Comment by Alan Edwards October 20, 2017 @ 11:18 amHi Dave, I guess you’ve read Matthew Engels’ rant…
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/oct/20/cricket-is-rotting-destroyed-icc-ecb-t20-test-matches
Says it all, really.
Comment by Dave Pople October 20, 2017 @ 3:32 pmA rant or an insightful view?
Comment by James October 20, 2017 @ 4:35 pmThe latter for me James. I missed it, so thanks very much Dave. Engel used to report cricket for the paper and also edited Wisden (and Jo will like that he supports Northants). I’m absolutely with him on this – I think, after some weeks to reflect – that I didn’t greatly miss cricket in 2017 (I went three times) because it’s no longer the game I love, so there’s nothing to miss.
Comment by pompeypop October 20, 2017 @ 8:35 pmIt is something when a former editor of Wisden writes a piece like that about the state of world cricket. An insightful view gets my vote too. I differ from pp in that I still love the 4-day game. Looking back on my usual 2 month visit to the UK this summer, I would say that the 4 days I watched Hants (3 at the Rose Bowl, 1 at the Oval) play championship cricket were the highlights of the whole trip. The only other cricket I saw were bits of the tests on TV. The 50 over and T20 stuff passed me by.
Comment by Ian Laidlaw October 20, 2017 @ 11:34 pmThanks Ian. I hope the pleasure continues – maybe for some years I simply overdid it (every day at home plus 50 & 20 overs, plus trips away). Maybe my absence will help the heart to grow fonder eventually …
Comment by pompeypop October 21, 2017 @ 6:37 am