Bob appleyard

Former England cricketer Bob Appleyard, who suffered a miserable childhood -- including the loss of his father, stepmother and two sisters in a gas leak when he was 15 -- was born on this day in Yorkshire in 1924.

Appleyard, who could bowl fast-medium and off-spinners with exactly the same action, was touted among the country's best bowlers in the 1950s, and despite his career almost getting destroyed by illness and injury, he went on to take 31 wickets in the nine Tests he played and another 708 wickets in 152 First-class games.