Bruce French

Bruce Nicholas French (born 13 August 1959) 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". He had a run in the side until a finger injury gave Jack Russell his opportunity behind the stumps. In his sixteen Test matches, French scored 309 runs at an average of 18.11, took thirty eight catches and made one stumping. French was also part of a successful Nottinghamshire county side, which won the County Championship and NatWest Trophy in 1987, French helping Richard Hadlee in a crucial stand of 75 in the final of the latter. He was also part of the sides that won the 1981 County Championship, the 1991 Refuge Assurance League, and the Benson and Hedges Cup in 1989. In the final of the latter he shared another crucial but smaller stand in a successful run chase, this time with Eddie Hemmings.

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. French also saved two young girls from drowning while on a Test tour in Pakistan, when he came across them by chance. He also missed a home test in 1987 after contracting chickenpox. He also missed part of a Lord's Test against New Zealand in 1986 after being struck by a delivery from his Nottinghamshire team-mate Hadlee while batting, his place behind the stumps, with the permission of New Zealand captain Jeremy Coney, being taken successively by Bill Athey, Bob Taylor (who briefly thus came out of retirement), and Bobby Parks.

French joined the 1990 rebel tour to South Africa, a decision which confirmed that his test playing days were over.

French enjoys mountaineering, 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.