Former Australian Test spinner Bruce Yardley has died at the age of 71 following a long battle with cancer.
A cult figure and also renowned as a brilliant gully fielder, Yardley played 33 Tests for Australia, picking 126 wickets, which includes a 10-wicket haul against the West Indies at the SCG in 1982. In the second innings, he went on to scalp 7 wickets for 98.
Starting off his career as a medium pace bowler, Yardley was a useful tool even as a batsman for Australia. Coming down the line, he scored a 29-ball half-century against West Indies in 1978. He held the record for a whopping 38 years before David Warner broke it in January 2017.
His exploits with the ball made him Australia’s first-choice bowler during 1980s and was subsequently named as the International Cricketer of the Year in the 1981-82 season.
In his first-class career, Yardley took 344 wickets in 105 games before turning into coaching and taking Sri Lanka’s job in the late 1990s, while also coaching Midland Guildford in Perth club cricket.
Yardley’s stint with Sri Lanka was a massive step ahead not for the country for also for their star bowler Muttiah Muralitharan. While the disputes were on regarding his bowling action, Yardley came in his support. He is also reportedly credited to have advised Muralitharan to go with "Doosra" delivery.
Former Sri Lankan cricket Russel Arnold took to Twitter and said, Sad to hear the passing of Bruce Yardley!!! Great character he was and was truly loved in SL, he was coach in the nintees. You put a smile on many people. Will be missed.”
Tom Moody too paid his condolences. He wrote, "Deeply saddened to hear the passing of former team mate and friend, Roo you were one of a kind you’ll be missed by us all.”
Bradley was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, and lost his battle back home in Western Australia at Kununurra District Hospital.
