Skilled with both bat and ball, Bates scored over 10,000 first-class runs, took more than 870 wickets and was always reliable in the field.

At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1882/83, Bates excelled by scoring 55 in England's only innings before taking 7 for 28 (including a hat-trick) to force Australia to follow on.

On a tour of Australia with G.F. Vernon's XI in 1887–88, he was bowling in the nets in Melbourne when he was hit in the eye by a ball struck by a teammate.

His enforced retirement caused him great depression, and on the voyage home from Australia he attempted suicide.

At the end of December 1899 he caught a chill whilst attending the funeral of fellow Yorkshire player John Thewlis.