Doug Yeabsley
Encyclopedia
Douglas Ian Yeabsley (born 3 January 1942, Exeter
, Devon
) is a former minor counties cricketer
who represented the Minor Counties and, particularly Devon County Cricket Club
from 1959 to 1990, 31 years.
Yeabsley made just four appearances in first-class cricket
and 41 in List A matches. His first-class appearances were all made for the Minor Counties representative team against touring international opposition. His best bowling return was achieved against the 1974 Pakistan touring team
, taking 3–45 including the wickets of Mushtaq Mohammad
, Wasim Bari
and Wasim Raja
—all Test players.
Yeabsley's last List A appearance, was versus Worcestershire
in the 1987 Nat West Trophy. Ian Botham
and Graeme Hick
both made hundreds. Worcestershire scored their 404 runs at a rate of nearly seven runs per over. Aged 45, Yeabsley's 12 overs cost just 50 runs; the other four bowlers conceded 79–97 runs off the same number of overs.
Yeabsley has been described as "undoubtedly England's best amateur bowler of the Seventies, at left-arm fast-medium". He never bowled a wide and has been a great asset to the game of cricket.
and Richard
both played first-class cricket
, the latter in particular with some success. Both were educated at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, where Doug taught chemistry from 1964 and coached the school first XI and rugby
first XV.
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) is a former minor counties cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who represented the Minor Counties and, particularly Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Devon and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
from 1959 to 1990, 31 years.
Career
A left-arm medium pace bowler and a left-handed tail end batsman, Yeabsley made his debut for Devon "in 1959, aged 17, while still at Exeter School, and continued for 31 seasons, a tribute to his durability and skill".Yeabsley made just four appearances in first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
and 41 in List A matches. His first-class appearances were all made for the Minor Counties representative team against touring international opposition. His best bowling return was achieved against the 1974 Pakistan touring team
Pakistani cricket team in England in 1974
The Pakistan cricket team toured England in the 1974 season to play a three-match Test series against England.The series was drawn 0-0 with all three matches drawn.-Series summary:* – match drawn* – match drawn...
, taking 3–45 including the wickets of Mushtaq Mohammad
Mushtaq Mohammad
Mushtaq Mohammad is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 57 Tests and 10 ODIs from 1959 to 1979. A right-handed batsman and a leg-spinner, he is one of the most successful Pakistani all-rounders and went on to captain his country in nineteen Test matches...
, Wasim Bari
Wasim Bari
Wasim Bari is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in 81 Tests and 51 ODIs from 1967 to 1984. Bari was a wicket-keeper and right-handed batsman...
and Wasim Raja
Wasim Raja
Wasim Hasan Raja , was a Pakistani cricketer who played in 57 Tests and 54 ODIs for the Pakistani national cricket team from 1973 to 1985. His younger brother, Rameez Raja, also represented Pakistan in Tests and ODIs, becoming captain of the national side...
—all Test players.
Yeabsley's last List A appearance, was versus Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
in the 1987 Nat West Trophy. Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
and Graeme Hick
Graeme Hick
Graeme Ashley Hick MBE is a Zimbabwean-born cricketer who played 65 Test matches and 120 One Day Internationals for England. He played county cricket for Worcestershire for his entire English domestic career, a period of well over twenty years, and in 2008 he surpassed Graham Gooch's record for...
both made hundreds. Worcestershire scored their 404 runs at a rate of nearly seven runs per over. Aged 45, Yeabsley's 12 overs cost just 50 runs; the other four bowlers conceded 79–97 runs off the same number of overs.
Yeabsley has been described as "undoubtedly England's best amateur bowler of the Seventies, at left-arm fast-medium". He never bowled a wide and has been a great asset to the game of cricket.
Family and teaching career
Yeabsley's two sons, MichaelMichael Yeabsley
Michael Yeabsley , an alumnus of Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, is a former first-class cricketer.Son of former Devon player, Doug Yeabsley, and brother of fellow first-class player Richard, Michael was an off-break bowler...
and Richard
Richard Yeabsley
Richard Yeabsley , an alumnus of Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, is a former first-class cricketer.Son of former Devon player, Doug Yeabsley, and brother of fellow first-class player Michael, Richard was a sharp medium-pace bowler and useful batsman...
both played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
, the latter in particular with some success. Both were educated at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, where Doug taught chemistry from 1964 and coached the school first XI and rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
first XV.