William Bullen was a leading English cricketer throughout the last quarter of the 18th century, his known career spanning the years 1773 to 1800.^[2] He was an all-rounder who probably batted right-handed.^[b] He played mainly for Kent sides^[c] although he also appeared for England XIs^[d] and a variety of other sides.^[3]

Arthur Haygarth, writing in the 1860s, describes Bullen as a "close set, strong built man" and a "crack" (i.e. expert) player, who was a "renowned batsman and bowler".^[5] He was a fast bowler, in the underarm style, and a hard-hitting batsman who was a "powerful" player.^[5] He is reputed to have "frequently bowled the sixth part of a mile (about 300 yards), or the whole length of the Artillery Ground in London".^[5][6] He was possibly a native of Deptford in Kent^[5] and is known to have played for Dartford Cricket Club as well as teams organised by landowners from the western parts of the county.^[3]

Bullen is known to have played in 113 matches retrospectively recognised as first-class.^[3] In these matches, Bullen totalled 1,777 runs with a highest score of 54, his only half-century. He held 119 catches and is credited with 181 wickets.^[a] His best known performance was six wickets in an innings.^[3]

Bullen played in nearly every season from 1773 to 1800. The first match he is known to have played in was for an England XI against a Hampshire side on the Artillery Ground in July 1773. He batted in both the England innings, scoring 1 in each.^[7] In July 1774, playing again for England against Hampshire at Sevenoaks Vine, he took five wickets in Hampshire's first innings, the earliest recorded instance of a bowler taking five wickets in an innings.^[8] He played for Kent sides from 1774, including matches against Maidstone teams in 1777,^[9] and his final known matches were in four odds matches^[e] for Kent sides against England teams in 1800.^[3]