He was a right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler who played for Warwickshire.

Born in the pavilion at Edgbaston Cricket Ground where his father, John, was head groundsman,[1] Bates would go on play 200 first-class matches at the ground scoring over 8,000 runs.

[2] In total Bates represented his county 441 times between 1913 and 1935, he also made two appearances for 'The Rest' against England in 1927 and once for the Players against Gentlemen in 1925.

[5] After retiring as a player in 1935, he fulfilled the role of coach and head groundsman at Christ's Hospital until 1963.

He died at Coldwaltham following a long and debilitating illness in which both his legs were amputated.