Bruce Yardley facts for kids

Bruce Yardley (born 5 September 1947 – died 27 March 2019) was an Australian cricket player. He played in 33 Test matches and seven One Day International games between 1978 and 1983. He took 126 wickets in Test matches.

His teammates called him 'Roo'. Yardley started as a fast-medium bowler. Later, in his late 20s, he changed to off-spin bowling. He became very good at it for his club and state teams. His bowling style was a bit different. He bowled at a medium speed and spun the ball using his middle finger, not his index finger like most off-spinners.

Yardley was also a useful batsman, usually batting at number eight. He scored four half-centuries in Test matches. He was also an amazing fielder, especially in the gully area. He caught 31 balls in his 33 Test matches. Some of his catches were truly spectacular!

In the early 1980s, Yardley was Australia's main spin bowler. During this time, he took most of his 126 Test wickets. This included his best performance of 7 wickets for 98 runs against the West Indies in Sydney in 1981/82. Because of his great performances, he was named the 1981/1982 Benson and Hedges International Cricketer of the Year. He even won a new sports car!

After he stopped playing professional cricket, Yardley stayed involved in the sport. He worked as a coach and a TV and radio commentator. In 1997, he became the coach of the Sri Lankan national team. He was a big fan of Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. Yardley encouraged Murali to learn a new delivery called the doosra.

Bruce Yardley's Cricket Journey

Bruce Yardley started playing club cricket as a fast-medium bowler. He made his first-class cricket debut in 1966–67. However, his state team, Western Australia, had many fast bowlers. This made it hard for him to get a regular spot. He only played two games in six seasons.

In 1971, Yardley started to focus on spin bowling and also worked on his batting. By 1973–74, he was chosen for Western Australia as a batsman. He even scored 43 runs without being out against the touring New Zealand team in 1974. Sometimes, he would bowl a few overs too.

After playing first-class cricket for ten years, Yardley had played 14 matches. He had scored 246 runs and taken six wickets.

Becoming a Spin Bowler

The 1976–77 season was a big turning point for Yardley. He became a full-time spin bowler. In one game against South Australia, he took 2 wickets for 44 runs and 3 wickets for 40 runs. He also scored a helpful 35 runs. Two games later, against New South Wales, he took 6 wickets for 62 runs. Then, he scored 97 runs without being out!

For that season, he scored 171 runs and took 19 wickets.

Playing for Australia (1977–78)

In 1977–78, many top Australian players left to join a new cricket league called World Series Cricket. This opened up spots in the Australian Test team. Yardley had a very good season playing for his state. He scored 51 runs quickly in one game, then took 7 wickets for 44 runs. This made him a strong choice for the spinner's spot in the national team.

Yardley was chosen for the fifth Test match against India and also for the tour to the West Indies. His first Test match was promising. He scored 22 and 26 runs. In the second innings, he took 4 wickets for 134 runs, helping Australia win the game.

Touring the West Indies (1978)

Yardley did very well on the tour to the West Indies. He and fellow spinner Jim Higgs worked well together. He took five wickets against Leeward Islands. Then, he took nine wickets against Trinidad and Tobago.

In the first Test, he took three wickets. In the second Test, Yardley batted brilliantly. He scored 74 runs very quickly in the first innings and 47 runs in the second. He took three wickets in the third Test, which Australia won.

Ashes Series (1978–79)

Yardley kept his place for the first Test of the 1978–79 Ashes series against England. He didn't take many wickets in that game, but his batting helped Australia. He took four wickets in the second Test. He was later recalled for the sixth Test, where he took two wickets and scored 61 runs. In that game, he and Jim Higgs even opened the bowling together, which was unusual for spinners!

Touring India (1979)

Yardley went on tour to India in 1979. He played in the second Test, scoring 47 runs as a nightwatchman. He then took 4 wickets for 107 runs, but he got sick and couldn't bowl more.

He stayed in the team for the third Test. He was even asked to open the batting for Australia and scored 29 runs. Later, an injury to his foot kept him out of some games. He returned for the fifth Test, where he scored 61 runs quickly and took 4 wickets for 91 runs.

Coming Back Strong (1980–81)

Yardley had a great return to form in the 1980–81 season. He scored 78 runs in one game. Then, he took 5 wickets for 85 runs against South Australia. He also took 7 wickets for 62 runs and 4 wickets for 36 runs against Tasmania.

Because of this great form, he was called back to the Australian team for a Test against India. He took 2 wickets for 90 runs and 1 wicket for 25 runs. Towards the end of the summer, his 3 wickets for 40 runs helped Western Australia win the Sheffield Shield trophy.

International Cricketer of the Year (1981–82)

Yardley had his best season in 1981–82. He started well by taking 4 wickets for 54 runs against South Australia. He was then chosen for the first Test against Pakistan. He took 6 wickets for 84 runs in Pakistan's second innings, helping Australia win.

He then took 1 wicket for 51 runs and 4 wickets for 77 runs in the second Test, leading to another Australian victory. In the third Test, Yardley took 7 wickets for 187 runs and was named man of the match.

Australia then played the West Indies. In the famous Boxing Day Test, Yardley took 4 wickets for 38 runs in their second innings. This helped Australia win. In the next Test, he took 3 wickets for 87 runs and 7 wickets for 98 runs. He also hit 45 runs very quickly.

Yardley was voted the International Cricketer of the Year for his amazing performances.

Final Years in Test Cricket

Yardley continued to play for Australia in 1982. He toured New Zealand and Pakistan. In the 1982–83 Ashes series against England, he took 5 wickets for 107 runs and 3 wickets for 101 runs in the first Test. He finished that series with 22 wickets.

Yardley toured Sri Lanka in 1983. In the only Test match there, he took 5 wickets for 88 runs and 2 wickets for 78 runs. This helped Australia win the game. This was his last Test match.

After being overlooked for the 1983 Cricket World Cup, Yardley decided to retire from first-class cricket. He said he would be 36 soon and it was a good time to stop.

A Brief Comeback

Surprisingly, Yardley made a comeback to first-class cricket six and a half years after retiring. He was 41 years old when he was named in a Western Australian team to tour India in 1989. He then played a few more games for Western Australia in the 1989-90 summer. He took ten wickets in those games before retiring for good.

Life After Cricket

After retiring, Yardley became the coach of the Sri Lankan national team in 1997. He later coached the Singapore team in 2001.

He also coached Western Australia to win their first Imparja Cup in 2009–10. Yardley was a regular cricket commentator on TV and radio.

Bruce Yardley passed away from cancer on 27 March 2019, in Kununurra, Western Australia. He was 71 years old.