William Bullen was a leading English cricketer throughout the last quarter of the 18th century, his known career spanning the years 1773 to 1800.
[3] Arthur Haygarth, writing in the 1860s, describes Bullen as a "close set, strong built man" and a "crack" (i.e. expert) player, who was a "renowned batsman and bowler".
[5] He is reputed to have "frequently bowled the sixth part of a mile (about 300 yards), or the whole length of the Artillery Ground in London".
[5][6] He was possibly a native of Deptford in Kent[5] and is known to have played for Dartford Cricket Club as well as teams organised by landowners from the western parts of the county.
The first match he is known to have played in was for an England XI against a Hampshire side on the Artillery Ground in July 1773.