recalled to the Australian side for the test against India, replacing Shaun Graf; once again he was in the squad alongside Jim Higgs. Yardley ended up being preferred to Higgs in the game, taking 2–90 and 1–25, as Australia failed to bowl out India. Yardley and Higgs played together in the next Test. Yardley had better figures, taking 2-45 and 2-65, but Australia's batters collapsed in the second innings and India won the game. Towards the end of the summer, Yardley's 3-40 against Queensland in a crucial game helped WA win the Shield. Yardley was overlooked for the 1981 Ashes despite being the third highest first class wicket-taker that summer, with 47 wickets at 25.38. The spinners chosen to go to England both had less wickets than Yardley: Graeme Beard (29) and Ray Bright (22). International Cricketer of the Year Yardley's greatest season came in 1981–82. He started well with 4-54 against South Australia and was picked in the Australian 12 for the first Test against Pakistan over Ray Bright. Yardley rewarded the selectors taking 6-84 in Pakistan's second innings. He then took 1-51 and 4-77 in the second Test, contributing to another Australian victory. For the third Test Yardley's figures were 7-187, earning him the man of the match award – but Australia lost the game by an innings. Australia then played the West Indies. The first game was the famous Boxing Day Test, best remembered for Kim Hughes' century. Yardley took 4-38 in their second innings helping considerably to an Australian victory. "Bruce bowled better than at any time I have seen him before", said Greg Chappell. "He is a great spin-bowler because he attacks the batsman and that is an asset that is rare among spinners". In the second Test he took 3-87 and 7-98, and hit 45 off 33 balls, giving Australia an outside chance of winning the game, but it ended in a draw. For the third Test, Yardley took 5-132 in the West Indies' first innings but no wickets in the second, as Australia lost. Yardley was not selected in Australia's one day side for the latter part of the summer. However he was voted International Cricketer of the Year. 1982 Tour of New Zealand Yardley and Ray Bright were the two spinners on the 1982 tour of New Zealand. Yardley took 3-49 in the rain shortened first Test. He took 4-142 and 2-40