He was a left-arm slow bowler who played List A cricket for Hertfordshire. Appleyard made his first cricketing appearance in 1957, at the age of 19, playing for Essex"s Second XI, taking two wickets in the first innings in which he bowled. Appleyard appeared occasionally in the Minor Counties Championship between 1960 and 1965 for Buckinghamshire.
Appleyard made his List A debut in the Gillette Cup competition of 1966, and also appeared in the 1969, 1971 and 1974 competitions.
