Bob Appleyard interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar

Reference

AV/4/52

Date:

2001 - 2002

Level of description

item

Extent

1 cassette: 1 side, total time 29 minutes 0 seconds

Part of

Audio Cassettes (AV/4)

Scope and Content

Cassette recording, Bob Appleyard, Yorkshire and England cricketer, interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar. The interview consists of one side of a cassette.

[0:00-2:05] Appleyard talks about his cricket heroes when he grew up including D G Bradman and watching Bradman's innings of 334 for Australia vs. England at Headingley in 1930, and his heroes at Yorkshire including W E Bowes and Hedley Verity, and visiting Verity's grave while touring Australia with MCC in 1954-1955, [2:05-3:45] Appleyard talks about bowling offspin and how he developed his action first at school and then being encouraged to bowl offspin by Yorkshire captain N W D Yardley, [3:45-5:53] Appleyard talks about his debut for Yorkshire against Surrey at The Oval in July 1950, being informed by telegram that he would be playing and having to travel to London for the match, and taking his first wicket, [5:53-7:40] Appleyard talks about making his Test debut for England against Pakistan in 1954, and only playing three Tests in England all at Trent Bridge because of J C Laker's performances, [7:40-8:55] Appleyard talks about the differences between himself and Laker, [8:55-10:50] Appleyard talks about touring Australia with MCC in 1954-1955 which he felt was the best cricket he had played, and talks about F H Tyson's bowling during the tour, [10:50-13:20] Appleyard talks about playing his last Test for England against Australia in 1956 at Trent Bridge, Laker's achievement of taking 19 wickets against Australia at Old Trafford which made it difficult for Appleyard to get back in the team, and his shoulder injuries which caused Appleyard to retire, [13:20-14:00] Appleyard talks about his best bowling spell for England against Australia at Adelaide in 1955, [14:00-14:40] Appleyard talks about his best batting performance including making 63 not out for Yorkshire against Kent at Tunbridge Wells in 1957 and batting with J B Statham for England against Australia at Sydney and scoring 46 for the final wicket which helped England win the match, [14:40-15:35] Appleyard talks about embarrassing moments in his career including missing a run out during the MCC tour of Australia in 1954-1955, [15:35-16:25] Appleyard talks about practicing his fielding and his favourite fielding positions, [16:25-17:15] Appleyard talks about his regret and not being able to play one-day cricket as he retired before its introduction, [17:15-18:30] Appleyard talks about what it was like to play for Yorkshire and playing in front of large crowds at county cricket matches, [18:30-19:35] Appleyard talks about central contracts and the two division County Championship, [19:35-21:00] Appleyard talks about whether he would want to play cricket in the modern era and also talks about sledging, [21:00-22:30] Appleyard talks about enjoying watching the Australian team which defeated England in the 2001 Ashes series, and enjoying watching S K Warne, [22:30-23:50] Appleyard talks about how English cricket needs to improve the quality of spin bowling including the use of uncovered pitches, [23:50-26:00] Appleyard talks about his work after retiring from cricket, firstly working to sell milk cartons and later joining the British Printing Corporation, [26:00-26:50] Appleyard talks about the British Printing Corporation being taken over by Robert Maxwell, and Appleyard's differences with Maxwell and taking Maxwell to an employment tribunal, [26:50-28:20] Appleyard talks about retiring from work and enjoying watching cricket, collecting cricket memorabilia and his favourite items of memorabilia (a cake stand with images of George Hirst and Wilfred Rhodes), [28:20-29:00] Appleyard talks about how he would like history to remember his cricket career.

Associations

Robert Appleyard
Sir Donald George Bradman
William Eric Bowes
Hedley Verity
Norman Walter Dransfield Yardley
James Charles Laker
Frank Holmes Tyson
John Brian Statham
Ian Robert Maxwell
George Herbert Hirst
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
British Printing Corporation
Wilfred Rhodes
Shane Keith Warne
Ahmer Khokhar

Subject

spin bowling, Pakistan in England 1954, Australia in England 1956, MCC in Australia 1954-1955, Australia in England 2001, fielding, injuries

Institution name

Marylebone Cricket Club

Conditions governing access

Open

Language

English

Size

1 cassette: 1 side, total time 29 minutes 0 seconds

Hierarchy browser

• Audio Cassettes (AV/4)
  
  • Bob Appleyard interviewed by Ahmer Khokhar (AV/4/52)