Bruce French (cricketer)
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| Full name | Bruce Nicholas French | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 August 1959 Market Warsop, Nottinghamshire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Frog | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Neil French (brother) Jake Ball (nephew) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 517) | 19 June 1986 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 3 March 1988 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 80) | 27 January 1985 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 19 March 1988 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1976–1995 | Nottinghamshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 17 July 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bruce Nicholas French (born 13 August 1959)[1] is a former English cricketer, who played in sixteen Test matches and 13 One Day Internationals for the England cricket team from 1985 to 1988. A wicket-keeper/batsman, French played his first Test against India at Headingley, Leeds in 1986, and his last Test against New Zealand in Wellington in March 1988.
French played his county cricket exclusively for Nottinghamshire. Cricket writer, Colin Bateman, described French as "a wicketkeeper of the highest calibre".[1] His nephew Jake Ball also played test cricket for England.
Life and career
French served as understudy to Paul Downton on two tours, before making his Test debut in 1986. He had a run in the side until a finger injury gave Jack Russell his opportunity behind the stumps.[1]
French's best performance with the bat at Test level, came against Pakistan in the 1987 Test at Old Trafford, when he scored 59 in a rain-affected drawn match.
In his sixteen Test matches, French scored 309 runs at an average of 18.11, took thirty eight catches and made one stumping.[1]
French had a mixed experience on his tours. These included being bitten by a dog, being hit by a spectator thrown ball whilst practising, and then knocked down by a car as he arrived at hospital for treatment.[2] French also saved two young girls from drowning while on a Test tour in Pakistan, when he came across them by chance.[3]
After his Test playing days were over, French joined the 1990 rebel tour to South Africa.[1]
French enjoys mountaineering,[1] and had a spell coaching wicket-keeping for the England cricket team. He coached Matt Prior, the English wicket-keeper, and has been regarded as an excellent coach of high skills and knowledge.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 71. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "England rule the world". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 August 2017.
- ^ "Bruce French: 10 interesting facts about the English wicketkeeper". Cricket County. Retrieved 16 August 2017.