A right-hand middle-order batsman and a right-arm medium pace, Phil Bainbridge was an important member of the Gloucestershire team throughout the 1980s. Although he made his debut in 1977, it was not until 1981 that he secured a regular first-team slot. That summer he passed 1000 runs for the first of nine times, but he really made an impression in 1985 when he made 1644 runs at 56.68, earning recognition as one of Wisden's Five Cricketers of the Year and being talked about as a possible England player. However, he struggled in 1987 and never really recaptured his earlier form. At the end of 1990 he moved to Durham as they prepared for first-class status in 1992, not only as a player but also on the marketing side. He enjoyed two good seasons before being appointed as captain in 1994, but, again, his form fell away and he was replaced. He retired at the end of 1996.
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