Born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, Stead was a hard working fast-medium left-arm bowler, who made his first-class debut playing for Yorkshire in 1959.[1] In his debut game, he took 7 for 76 against the touring Indians at Bradford.[2] He joined Nottinghamshire in 1962, after failing to turn up when selected for Essex early in the season,[3] and he played for them for fourteen years. In 1969, he topped the national first-class wicket taking list, with seventy one victims. His career best innings bowling figures of 8 for 44 came during 1972, and included a hat-trick.[2] He finished the year with 98 wickets, and was elected the Professional Cricketers' Association 'Player of the Year'. Stead was a useful, hard hitting lower order batsman, who was occasionally sent up the batting order in one day matches.
^ abWarner, David (2011). The Yorkshire County Cricket Club: 2011 Yearbook (113th ed.). Ilkley, Yorkshire: Great Northern Books. p. 378. ISBN978-1-905080-85-4.
