YORKSHIRE legend Bob Appleyard has died, aged 90.

Appleyard, born in Bradford, took 708 wickets in 152 first-class matches at 15.48 apiece, including 31 in nine Test matches for England between 1954 and 1956.

Appleyard passed away at his Harrogate home yesterday after battling ill health.

He bowled off-spinners and medium paced seamers, even taking the new ball on occasions.

A first-class career which did not start until he was 27 years old was played out between 1950 and 1958, although he missed the 1952 and 1953 summers with tuberculosis. It was a remarkable feat to return to the game at all, let alone star as he did for county and country.

Although Appleyard did not win the Championship with Yorkshire, he helped England win the Ashes in 1954/55. He took a staggering 200 first-class wickets in his maiden full season in 1951, including 20 hauls of five wickets or more. His career best of 8-76 came in the final match of that season against the MCC team at Scarborough.

Appleyard, Yorkshire president between 2006 and 2008, was a leading player in the formation of Yorkshire’s Academy at his beloved Bradford Park Avenue and he fought hard to see first-class cricket return to the venue in the 1990s.

It will have no doubt delighted him greatly when, earlier this winter, Yorkshire announced they are open to returning there during a hectic summer in 2019.

Appleyard leaves two daughters and grandchildren.