Career
A courageous middle order batsman with a short backlift, Bailey hit the ball extremely hard, with shots all around the ground. Accompanied by this was his ability in the field, and as a part-time off spinner. He took the now prize wicket of Kevin Pietersen for nought, in a County Championship game against Nottinghamshire, at Derby in 2001.
He had specifically passed up the opportunity to participate in the England 1989 Rebel Tour to South Africa.
His form at the beginning of the 1989 season can only be considered as poor, returning in time for his selection to the 1989-1990 West Indies tour. He was given his first game of the series in the third Test where he bagged a pair.
After a shocking decision in the fourth Test, perhaps in part caused by an unsportsmanlike appeal by then West Indian captain Viv Richards, he returned with a well made 42 in Antigua against what was fast, accurate and intimidating bowling. Nevertheless, Bailey failed to reach a half-century in six Test innings.
However, that innings of 42 saw the end of his international career, despite his consistent performances of the 1990s.
Bailey is often referred to as being a loyal player and "one of the finest men to have played county cricket", testament to his seventeen years at Northamptonshire before he left to join Derbyshire at the end of 1999 after his contract was not renewed by Northamptonshire. His playing retirement came in 2001 after which he was appointed to join the ECB"s Reserve List of Umpires. Subsequently he is now on the ECB First Class Umpires list after being promoted for the 2006 season.