[1][2] A wicket-keeper for Charlton Cricket Club, he impressed during two trial matches in 1863 and made his first-class debut for Kent against Surrey at The Oval in July.
[3] The Kent side at the time has been described as "seriously short of talent",[1] and Staines replaced William Fryer behind the stumps following Fryer's decision to give up keeping wicket after losing an eye the previous year.
[1][4] After making scores of two and one in his two innings and taking three catches on debut, he played in Kent's remaining two county matches during the season, although Robert Bennett replaced him for the Canterbury Cricket Week match against an England XI.
[1][3][5] Following two heavy defeats in the county's first two matches of the following season, Staines, who scored only six runs in his five first-class matches, dropped out of the county side, replaced by Bennett for most of the remainder of the season.
[1] Professionally Staines delivered letters and then trained as a solicitor's clerk, remaining in the legal profession for the rest of his working life.