The former Yorkshire and England bowler Bob Appleyard has died at the age of 90.
Appleyard played just nine Tests but took 31 wickets in them at a remarkable average of 17.87, and is regarded by many as one of the world’s all-time greatest medium-pace bowlers.
He did not begin his first-class career until he was 27 and then played for just eight years, between 1950 to 1958. In that time, though, he was prolific – taking 708 wickets at 15.48.
His Test career spanned just two years, in the mid-1950s, but included an Ashes series victory in Australia under fellow Yorkshireman Len Hutton in 1954-55.
Bradford-born Appleyard’s statistics are unmatched by his contemporaries, and stand comparison with the very best from any era.
His bowling style was difficult to define – fast off-breaks, and cutters – but uniquely effective, especially on rain-affected surfaces at a time when wickets were uncovered.
Appleyard played just nine Tests but took 31 wickets in them at a remarkable average of 17.87, and is regarded by many as one of the world’s all-time greatest medium-pace bowlers.
He did not begin his first-class career until he was 27 and then played for just eight years, between 1950 to 1958. In that time, though, he was prolific – taking 708 wickets at 15.48.
His Test career spanned just two years, in the mid-1950s, but included an Ashes series victory in Australia under fellow Yorkshireman Len Hutton in 1954-55.
Bradford-born Appleyard’s statistics are unmatched by his contemporaries, and stand comparison with the very best from any era.
His bowling style was difficult to define – fast off-breaks, and cutters – but uniquely effective, especially on rain-affected surfaces at a time when wickets were uncovered.