Bruce Yardley

Bruce Yardley (born 5 September 1947, in Midland, Western Australia) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and 7 ODIs from 1978 to 1983. He is generally regarded, alongside Ashley Mallett, as one of the two best off spinners Australia has produced.

Known to his teammates as 'Roo', Yardley was an off-spin bowler who, like many spinners, began life as a fast-medium pace seamer. In his late 20s Yardley switched to off-spin and had success at club and then state level. His technique was slightly unusual in that he bowled at near medium-pace, rolling the ball off his middle finger rather than the index finger like conventional off-spinners. A handy number-eight batsman who scored four test half-centuries his batting was often characterised by a Yardley yahoo over the top of slips which opposition teams sometimes attempted to counter using a fly slip. Yardley was also an exceptional fielder in the gully region taking 31 catches in his 33 tests including a number of spectacular efforts. He was also the recipient of some fine fielding being the lucky bowler when John Dyson took his catch of the century to dismiss West Indian Sylvester Clarke.

In the early 1980s Yardley was Australia's first-choice spinner; during this period he took most of his 126 Test wickets, including a Test-best of 7/98 against the West Indies at Sydney in 1981/82. It was for this and other eye catching performances for which he was named the 1981/1982 Benson and Hedges International Cricketer of the Year.

Despite his fine all round cricket game he was rarely considered for One Day Internationals and in 1981 he was controversially left out of the Ashes squad which toured England (Stuart Macgill, Yardley and fellow West Australian Bruce Reid are the only three bowlers to take 100 wickets for Australia without playing a Test there). Yardley participated in Australia's first tour of Sri Lanka in 1983 and took seven wickets, including a five-wicket haul, in what proved to be his final Test.

Since retiring from competitive cricket Yardley has still been involved in the sport as a coach and media commentator. In 1997 he was appointed coach of the Sri Lankan national team. A long time admirer and supporter of Sri Lankan record breaking off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan it was Yardley who encouraged Murali to add the doosra to his arsenal. He was always adamant that Murali was not a chucker.

Bruce also recently spent several years as Regional Cricket Officer for Western Australian Cricket Association which involved responsibility for promoting cricket and increasing participation in the South West region through school visits/programs and cricket carnivals. He is also a regular cricket commentator on TV and radio.

Bruce Yardley's Test career batting performance.

Career

Bruce Yardley began playing grade cricket with Midland-Guildford as a fast medium bowler. He made his first class debut in 1966-67. However West Australia were blessed with fast bowlers during this period and he struggled to find a permanent spot, only playing in two games over six seasons.

In 1971 Yardley began developing his abilities as a spin bowler. He gained selection for WA as a spinner in 1973-74.

In 1977-78 the Australian test team had lost a number of its leading players to World Series Cricket. Tony Mann was tried as a spinner but was dropped after four tests. Bruce Yardley was selected for the fifth and final test and played a crucial role in the victory against India. He was selected on the 1977-78 tour of the West Indies and enjoyed considerable success, forming a notable spin combination with Jim Higgs.

Yardley played several tests during the 78-79 Ashes and toured India in 1979. He lost his spot when World Series Cricketers returned to the Australian side in 1979-80 but Yardley's good form saw him back in the national team in 1980-81. He was overlooked for the 1981 Ashes in favour of Graeme Beard despite taking more first class wickets that season, but had a magnificent season in 1981-82 against Pakistan and the West Indies. He also played well against England in 1982-83 and toured Sri Lanka in 1983.

After being overlooked for the 1983 World Cup, Yardley retired from first class cricket. He returned during the 1989-90 season but was unable to recapture his earlier form.

References

External links

• Cricinfo article on Bruce Yardley
• Bruce Yardley at Cricket Archive