Bob Appleyard

Who is Bob Appleyard?

Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.

He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century. Able to bowl fast-medium swingers or seamers and off-spinners with almost exactly the same action, Appleyard was a tragic figure whose career was almost destroyed by injury and illness after an amazing first full season in 1951. In his limited Test life, he took a wicket every fifty-one balls, and in first class cricket his 708 wickets cost only 15.48 runs each. Equally, when he was fit, Appleyard was one of the finest bowlers to represent county and country.