William Fowles Downes (1843 – 1 January 1896) was a New Zealand cricketer.

[3] Described as a man of "commanding presence, fine physique and genial nature", he began playing for Otago soon after his arrival.

[6] Downes was the manager of the Bank of New South Wales in Wanganui, where he died after a long illness on 1 January 1896.

[3] His longest stay at one branch of the bank was 16 years in Lawrence, Otago, before transferring to New Plymouth in 1884.

[8] In its brief notice of his death, The Feilding Star called him "one of the most sterling men in the colony".