[1] Bates was born in Frimley, Surrey, and was educated at Lord Wandsworth College, Hook, Hampshire.
Bates was an integral part Hampshire's team that won the 2010 Friends Provident T20.
Veteran keeper Nic Pothas' injury meant that Bates played a lot of matches in 2011, and whilst his batting was rarely needed his tidy work behind the stumps and especially the pressure he created standing up to the likes of Dominic Cork and Chris Wood was vital to winning.
However, after the retirement of Craig Kieswetter due to injury, an out-of-form Alex Barrow and an injury to second choice 'keeper James Regan, after playing in a trial match for the second II, Bates signed a monthlong contract with Somerset in June 2015.
However, he averaged 3.5 catches per match as wicket keeper in 2010, a Hampshire record for a season.