Samantha "Sam" Lee Bates (born 17 August 1992)^[1] is an Australian cricketer who plays as a spin bowler for the Sydney Thunder and Victoria.^[2][3]

Bates grew up in Newcastle and started playing cricket in the local boys' competition at age 10. Originally a fast bowler, she was encouraged to take up spin after requiring a knee reconstruction due to a soccer training accident when she was 16.^[4][5]

The left-armer toured Dubai in March and April 2015 as a member of Cricket Australia's Shooting Stars program, an under-23 development squad.^[6] On 6 December, she claimed the Thunder's first-ever wicket in the Women's Big Bash League, dismissing Alyssa Healy for 14 runs.^[7] Two weeks later, Bates broke her right wrist in two places while diving for a catch during a six-wicket loss to the Adelaide Strikers at Allan Border Field.^[8] She was consequently ruled out for the remainder of the 2015–16 WBBL season, nevertheless the Thunder would go on to win the inaugural championship.^[9]

After re-signing with the Thunder in October 2017 for two more seasons,^[10][11] Bates took 16 WBBL|03 wickets at an economy rate of 5.88 and was named in the ACA's All-Star Team of the Year.^[12]

In October 2018, Bates was selected for the first official women's Australia A tour, which included three 50-over matches and three Twenty20s against India A in Mumbai.^[13]

In May 2019, after a decade with the ACT Meteors,^[14] Bates signed with Tasmania for the 2019–20 WNCL season.^[15] Two months later, she recommitted to the Sydney Thunder for a fifth and sixth WBBL season.^[16][17][18]