Doug Yeabsley

Douglas (Doug) Ian Yeabsley (born 3 January 1942 in 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.[1] Yeabsley played a role in a victory for Minor Counties over the visiting Australian cricket team in 1977.[2]

Doug Yeabsley

Personal information
Full name	Douglas Ian Yeabsley
Born	3 January 1942 Exeter, Devon, England
Nickname	Doug
Batting	Left-hand batsman
Bowling	Left-arm medium-fast
Role	Bowler
Relations	RS Yeabsley, MI Yeabsley (sons)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1969–1987	Devon
1974–1981	Minor Counties (West/South)
First-class debut	20 July 1974 Minor Counties v Pakistanis
Last First-class	4 August 1981 Minor Counties v Sri Lankans
List A debut	10 May 1969 Devon v Hertfordshire
Last List A	24 June 1987 Devon v Worcestershire
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A Matches 4 41 Runs scored 27 164 Batting average 9.00 13.66 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 14* 22* Balls bowled 837 2358 Wickets 13 36 Bowling average 29.92 32.27 5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 n/a Best bowling 3/45 3/21 Catches/stumpings 1/– 5/–
Source: CricketArchive, 10 December 2008

He also played top class rugby union: "as a back-row forward for Harlequins for many years",[2] and, as a flanker, for Saracens and Hertfordshire.[3] Away from sport, he taught chemistry at Haberdashers' Aske's School.

Cricket 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".[4]

Yeabsley made 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.[5] 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.[6]

Yeabsley's last List A appearance, was versus Worcestershire in the 1987 NatWest Trophy, when he was 45. Ian Botham and Graeme Hick both made hundreds. Worcestershire scored their 404 runs at a rate of nearly seven runs per over. Yeabsley's 12 overs cost just 50 runs; the other four bowlers conceded 79–97 runs off the same number of overs.[7]

Yeabsley has been described as "undoubtedly England's best amateur bowler of the Seventies, bowling left-arm fast medium."[4]

Family and teaching career

Yeabsley's two sons, Michael 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.[8]

References

1. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
2. http://reversesweeper.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/when-minor-counties-beat-australians.html
3. "Rugby Union: Internationals return for Surrey". The Times (58037). London. 1 December 1970. p. 15.
4. "Radlett CC : History". radlettcc.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
5. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
6. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
7. "The Home of CricketArchive". cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 January 2009. Retrieved 2008-12-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links

• Doug Yeabsley at CricketArchive (subscription required)
• Doug Yeabsley at ESPNcricinfo