Darren Wates

A swing bowler and a lawyer, Darren Wates walked away from his cricketing career at the end of 2007-08 to devote his full attention to the legal profession. Four seasons earlier he had done the opposite as he aimed to make a successful transition to full-time cricketer. But hamstring injuries restricted him to four Pura Cup matches, seven ING Cup games and 19 wickets, and for the next two summers he was used almost exclusively in one-day matches. An allrounder, Wates found it difficult to become anything more than an occasional member of Western Australia's first XI. In 2007-08 he played two Pura Cup games for 68 runs and four wickets, as well as six one-day matches, and ultimately decided the law would be a better career path. The son of parents born in India, Wates made a spectacular entry to interstate ranks in 1999-2000. After figuring prominently in several matches along the way to the Warriors' Mercantile Mutual Cup victory, he won the competition's Best New Talent award. At first-class level, his impact was also immediate. He claimed the prize wicket of Martin Love with his first legal delivery and struck a defiant 62 to top score in the Western Australian second innings.
Cricinfo staff September 2008