Bill Alley

William (Bill) Edward Alley (born 3 February 1919 in Sydney, Australia; died 26 November 2004 in Taunton, Somerset, England) was a cricketer who played 400 first class matches for New South Wales, Somerset and a Commonwealth XI.

Related Topics:
3 February - 1919 - Sydney - Australia - 26 November - 2004 - Taunton, Somerset - England - Cricketer - First class - New South Wales

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Whilst in Australia, Alley was also a middleweight boxer, and was undefeated in 28 contests when he was forced to give it up after being hit on the head in the nets at cricket practice. Later he was tipped to play tests by Don Bradman, the Australian cricket captain, but missed out after fracturing a jaw. This prompted him to leave New South Wales and come to Lancashire, England, playing league cricket there for nine years before joining Somerset when he was 38. He played his last and 350th first class game for Somerset when he was 49. After stopping playing, he umpired first class games for 16 years and also stood in 10 test matches and 9 one-day internationals as umpire. He so loved the West Country area of England that he chose to remain there after retirement rather than move back to his native Australia.

Related Topics:
Don Bradman - New South Wales - Lancashire - England - First class - Test match - One-day international - Umpire - West Country

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Alley was married to Betty, who he met when playing cricket in the north of England, and they had two sons. His first wife died in childbirth, a son, who died in an Army accident.

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