Bates learnt the game of cricket while playing with her brothers (Tom and Henry) in the backyard at Macandrew Bay Dunedin. Her talent as a cricketer was spotted during a national event for the Otago Girls' High School. At the age of just 15, she was a part of Otago Sparks side in the national women's league.
She came into the limelight when she crunched a knock of 183 off 152 for Otago against Auckland in the State League in the 2005-06 season. And that innings propelled her into the national consciousness as she was subsequently picked to play for New Zealand in ODIs against India in 2005-06 and the T20I debut the next year against South Africa.