Bill Alley

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Bill Alley
country = Australia


fullname = William Edward Alley
nickname =
living =
partialdates =
dayofbirth = 3
monthofbirth = 2
yearofbirth = 1919
placeofbirth = Hornsby, Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
dayofdeath = 24
monthofdeath = 11
yearofdeath = 2004
placeofdeath = Taunton, Somerset
countryofdeath = England
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Left-handed batsman
bowling = Right-arm medium-fast
role = All-rounder, Umpire
club1 = Somerset
year1 = 1957–1968
club2 = New South Wales
year2 = 1945/46–1946/47
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 23 November
debutyear1 = 1945
debutfor1 =
New South Wales
debutagainst1 = Queensland
lastdate1 = 31 August
lastyear1 = 1968
lastfor1 =
Somerset
lastagainst1 = Gloucestershire
type2 = List A
debutdate2 = 22 May
debutyear2 = 1963
debutfor2 =
Somerset
debutagainst2 = Glamorgan
lastdate2 = 14 September
lastyear2 = 1968
lastfor2 =
Somerset
lastagainst2 = Warwickshire
umpire = true
testsumpired = 10
umptestdebutyr = 1974
umptestlastyr = 1981
odisumpired = 9
umpodidebutyr = 1974
umpodilastyr = 1981
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = FC
matches1 = 400
runs1 = 19612
bat avg1 = 31.88
100s/50s1 = 31/92
top score1 = 221*
deliveries1 = 46034
wickets1 = 768
bowl avg1 = 22.68
fivefor1 = 30
tenfor1 = 1
best bowling1 = 8/65
catches/stumpings1 = 293/–
column2 = LA
matches2 = 17
runs2 = 288
bat avg2 = 19.20
100s/50s2 = 0/1
top score2 = 58*
deliveries2 = 1105
wickets2 = 25
bowl avg2 = 16.20
fivefor2 = 0
tenfor2 = –
best bowling2 = 4/14
catches/stumpings2 = 4
date = 30 October
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/3/3401/3401.html CricketArchive

William (Bill) Edward Alley (3 February 1919 in Sydney, Australia – 26 November 2004 in Taunton, Somerset, England) was a cricketer who played 400 first-class matches for New South Wales, Somerset and a Commonwealth XI.

Whilst in Australia, Alley was also a middleweight boxer, and was undefeated in 28 contests when he was forced to give it up after being hit on the head in the nets at cricket practice. Later he was tipped to play Tests by Don Bradman, the Australian cricket captain, but missed out after fracturing a jaw. This prompted him to leave New South Wales and come to Lancashire, England, playing league cricket there for nine years, becoming the only player to score 1000 runs in each of five consecutive seasons in the league's history. He joined Somerset when he was 38. He played his last and 350th first class game for Somerset when he was 49. After stopping playing, he umpired first-class games for 16 years and also stood in 10 Test matches and 9 One Day Internationals as umpire. He so loved the West Country area of England that he chose to remain there after retirement rather than move back to his native Australia.

Alley was married to Betty, who he met when playing cricket in the north of England, and they had two sons. His first wife died in childbirth; they had a son, who died in an Army accident.

Record

Alley was an all-rounder. He scored 19,612 runs at an average of 31.88 batting left-handed. He took 768 wickets at 22.68 runs per wicket, with a best of 8 for 65, bowling right arm medium fast. He also took 267 catches in the field. His best season was his testimonial season in 1961 when, at the age of forty-two, he scored over 3,000 runs for Somerset and achieved his highest score of 221 not out. It is the last instance of a batsman scoring 3000 in an English season. His 10 centuries for Somerset in 1961 remained a county record for thirty years. In 1962 he received the honour of being one of "Wisden's" five cricketers of the year, based on his performances in 1961 and during his career. In the 1962 season, he made over 1,900 runs and took 112 wickets. It was in 1962 that he got his best bowling return of 8 for 65 against a strong Surrey side that included Ken Barrington, Peter May and Bernie Constable.

References

* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/NOV/112673_ENG_27NOV2004.html Cricinfo obituary]
* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/AUS/A/ALLEY_WE_02003407/ Cricinfo page on Bill Alley]
*"The Times" (27 November 2004)
*" [http://www.somersetcountycc.co.uk/news_story.asp?newsID=825 Somerset County Cricket Club website] "
* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/3/3401/3401.html CricketArchive entry]