Wisden overview
A committed front-foot driver as a batsman, Rob Bailey was always a committed and genuine human being as well. Almost alone, he chose loyalty to England rather than the 1989-90 rebel tour to South Africa but got nothing back from the selectors. Bailey was probably too limited to make a truly successful Test player, though worse players got more chances. He left Northamptonshire for Derbyshire in 2000 soon after being deposed as captain; few departures have been more mourned by local supporters, who loved the novelty of a modern player who cared as much as they did. Matthew Engel

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