Born on 9 December 1908 in Doncaster, Archer Williamson Oates - nephew of Tom Oates, the Notts wicket-keeper - moved with his family to Eastwood in 1910. He was a right-hand bat and right-arm fast medium bowler who began his cricket with Eastwood School and then played for various colliery sides in and about Eastwood, including Manners Colliery and Digby Colliery. In 1929, after a trial, he took up a post on the Trent Bridge staff and in 1930 was fairly successful with the Second XI, taking 17 wickets.
His First-Class debut came versus Yorkshire at Trent Bridge in July 1931, when Notts were lacking Larwood, Voce and Sam Staples. Unfortunately he tried to bowl too fast and did not attain the success he might have expected. He kept his place in the line-up for the following three games, but achieved little. He re-appeared twice in 1932 and once in 1933; his last match was versus Surrey at Trent Bridge in June. At the close of 1933, he resigned from the ground staff and joined the Nottingham City Police, retiring as an Inspector in 1964. He died in Nottingham on 31 December 1968, aged 60.
In seven First-Class games he had scored 21 runs @4.20 and taken eight wickets @58.12. His best innings bowling figures were 2-38 versus Derbyshire at Ilkeston in 1932, taking 4-94 in the match.
April 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 347