Mark Bailey made his international debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games - the first and only Games to feature cricket. His selection, as cover for the injured Chris Cairns, was reward for an outstanding summer batting at No.3 for the State Northern Knights. Bailey had scored the most runs in the inaugural Shell Conference competition, averaged 61 in the Shell Trophy and 24 in the Shell Cup. Bailey played only one match at the Games but was included in the squad to travel to Bangladesh for the inaugural ICC Knockout Tournament. He played one game in Dhaka but did not get to bat. Later in the summer Bailey was overlooked by selectors who opted for the in-form Roger Twose when Cairns was again injured and he retired shortly afterwards.
Wisden Cricinof staff