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Bruce Yardley (born 5 September 1947, in Midland, Western Australia) is a former Australian cricketer who played in 33 Tests and seven ODIs from 1978 to 1983, taking 126 Test wickets. 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 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 remained 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. Yardley also recently spent several years as Regional Cricket Officer for the 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. ==Career== Bruce Yardley began playing grade cricket with Midland-Guildford as a fast medium bowler. He made his first-class cricket debut in 1966-67, taking one wicket against Queensland.〔()〕 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. (The second game came against Victoria at the WACA in 1970-71.〔()〕) In 1971 Yardley began developing his abilities as a spin bowler and worked on his batting. He gained selection for WA as a batsman in 1973-74.〔()〕 He scored 43 not out against the touring New Zealanders in 1974.〔()〕 He would occasionally bowl as well.〔()〕 In 1973-74 he scored a quick fire 59 in a Gillette Cup game, helping WA beat NSW. In 1974-75 he played for West Australia primarily as a batsman.〔()〕 After a decade in First-Class cricket Yardley had 14 First-Class matches, scoring 246 runs at 14.47 and picking up six wickets at 61.83. He had bowled only 923 deliveries (153.5 six-ball overs). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bruce Yardley」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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