RIP Bruce Yardley

[Bornadog]

Former Australian cricketer Bruce Yardley dies


Australian Test cricketer Bruce Yardley has died after a long battle with cancer.

A veteran of 33 Test matches, Yardley died, aged 71, in a West Australian hospital on Wednesday. Yardley took 126 wickets in a Test career spanning five years from 1978.

The West Australian initially started his cricket career as a medium-pace bowler but later turned to offspin.
A gregarious character, Yardley was also renowned as a brilliant gully fieldsman and handy lower-order batsman.

He scored four Test half-centuries with a top score of 74 and held the record for Australia's quickest half-century for 38 years after reaching the milestone from 29 balls against the West Indies in 1978.

David Warner eclipsed that record in January 2017.

Yardley, who took 344 wickets in 105 first-class matches, became Sri Lanka's coach in the late 1990s.

[GVGjr]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

My favourite cricketer of all time, underrated off spin bowler, a more than handy number 8 batsman and excellent gully fieldsman
He left the game after not being selected for one day cricket.

Condolences to all his family and friends.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

I just missed his career first hand, as I only really started taking cricket seriously when i turned 10 in 1983. However the bug hit me hard right away, and I very quickly started consuming any and all cricket books & magazines I could get my hands on.
I became aware of how good Yardley was by reading through the Annual Benson & Hedges Australian Cricket yearbook for 81-82. He had great success in the tests that summer against the West Indies and Pakistan. He won the international cricketer of the year that summer i think.

I recall him making a comeback for WA in the late 80s for one summer.

Very much an underrated player, and also an influential coach too.

[Remi Moses]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

Terribly sad news ! Wholehearted player and had areal purple patch . Great fielder as well

[mjp]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

As a kid, I remember we (wa) had 7 players in the national team - wood, laird, Hughes, alderman, Lillee,Marsh and Yardley. When I think back to those times and the amount of time I spent watching and playing cricket, well, it really does feel like another lifetime ago. I can’t believe I rattled those names off and I swear I can see the poster on the back of my bedroom door in my mind now...

Yardley was a cricketer from a different time and I was really saddened to hear of his passing today. It makes me remember racing home from school to LISTEN to matches on the radio (tv? Hah! Not in my house), Dennis Lillee bowling Queensland (featuring Viv Richards) out for 37 in a one-Dayer, Greg Chappell informing everyone he was batting well...he just kept getting out...and Yardley snagging (I think) a 7fer in an ashes game.

Sad times.

[Bornadog]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

He was too young to die, an under rated cricketer who as MJP says brings back memories thinking about his career. Condolences to friends and family.

[Twodogs]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

As a kid, I remember we (wa) had 7 players in the national team - wood, laird, Hughes, alderman, Lillee,Marsh and Yardley. When I think back to those times and the amount of time I spent watching and playing cricket, well, it really does feel like another lifetime ago. I can’t believe I rattled those names off and I swear I can see the poster on the back of my bedroom door in my mind now...

Yardley was a cricketer from a different time and I was really saddened to hear of his passing today. It makes me remember racing home from school to LISTEN to matches on the radio (tv? Hah! Not in my house), Dennis Lillee bowling Queensland (featuring Viv Richards) out for 37 in a one-Dayer, Greg Chappell informing everyone he was batting well...he just kept getting out...and Yardley snagging (I think) a 7fer in an ashes game.

Sad times.

7/98 IIRC.

we (wa) had 7 players in the national team - wood, laird, Hughes, alderman, Lillee,Marsh and Yardley.

Funnily enough I watched a show last week that mentions the 7 players WA had selected. They only mentioned it through the prism of it being the first time a NSW player wasn't selected in the 12.

[1eyedog]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

My favourite cricketer of all time, underrated off spin bowler, a more than handy number 8 batsman and excellent gully fieldsman
He left the game after not being selected for one day cricket.

Condolences to all his family and friends.

I held him in high esteem as well. Underrated and always seemed to make something happen wen we needed it. RIP.

[whythelongface]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

Saddened to hear about the passing of Yardley. One of my favourite Australian cricketers back in the day. As others have mentioned a good off spin bowler, a handy bat and a brilliant gully fieldsman. There are always two catches that I remember with great fondness - one was John Dyson's outfield catch. The other was Bruce Yardley's circa 1982 v WI off DK. Can't remember the batsmen but oh what a catch.

RIP Yards.

[whythelongface]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

My favourite cricketer of all time, underrated off spin bowler, a more than handy number 8 batsman and excellent gully fieldsman
He left the game after not being selected for one day cricket.

Condolences to all his family and friends.

I always find it interesting whom and why people select a certain person to be their favourite player (whatever code that may be). What stood out about Yards that made him your favourite? The way he played the game? his seemingly laconic style? He certainly was one of favourites at the time as well. I really liked the way he took the game on and was clearly an under rated player. He just seemed like an all round top bloke.

[GVGjr]

Re: RIP Bruce Yardley

I always find it interesting whom and why people select a certain person to be their favourite player (whatever code that may be). What stood out about Yards that made him your favourite? The way he played the game? his seemingly laconic style? He certainly was one of favourites at the time as well. I really liked the way he took the game on and was clearly an under rated player. He just seemed like an all round top bloke.

I liked the way he played the game, genuinely attacking with both bat and ball and just made things happen in the field. He was enthusiastic with the way he played and celebrated a well earned wicket. He was very good in a 2 or 3 year period as well and it probably coincided at a time when I was also enjoying international cricket.