All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

195 Jim Laker With great respect to Anil Kumble, the only other bowler to take a Test all-ten, Jim Laker’s all-ten at Old Trafford in July 1956 is probably still the most famous bowling feat of all time. It is difficult to believe that there has ever been a better orthodox off-spinner (which precludes comparison with more unorthodox off-spinners such as Murali or Saqlain Mushtaq). He seemed to have everything. He spun the ball sharply, varied pace and flight consummately, was equally at home bowling over or round the wicket, and from a short relaxed run-up had a good balanced action which enabled him to maintain control at all times. Born in Bradford, Yorkshire in 1922 (a city where he would take eight for 2 in a 1950 Test trial), Laker made a bit of a name for himself before the War in the Bradford League, but first really attracted attention playing cricket during war service in the Middle East having changed his bowling style from quickish to off spin. Before demobilisation he was billeted in South London and, joining Surrey, soon impressed and was chosen to tour the West Indies with Gubby Allen’s side in 1947/48. However, there were a lot of good spinners around at the time and he did not become an England regular until 1956. Consequently, although he took 193 wickets in 46 Tests, he never took more than 18 wickets in a series apart from the spectacular 46 that he took in the 1956 Ashes series. Handicapped by an arthritic finger he retired at the end of 1959, although prompted by Trevor Bailey he returned to the game in 1962 as an amateur and played with some success for Essex. His final career tally was 1,944 wickets at 18.41 apiece. No post-war spinner has taken so many wickets at so low a cost. He was also a useful batsman with two centuries to his name. Surrey v Australians, 1956 Kennington Oval, Kennington on 16, 17, 18 May 1956 (3-day match) Toss won by Australians Surrey won by ten wickets Umpires: LH Gray, K McCanlis Australians 259 (JC Laker 10-88) and 107 (GAR Lock 7-49); Surrey 347 (B Constable 109, IWG Johnson 6-168) and 20-0 Australians first innings JW Burke lbw b Laker 28 CC McDonald c Swetman b Laker 89 KD Mackay c Surridge b Laker 4 RN Harvey c Constable b Laker 13 KR Miller not out 57 +LV Maddocks b Laker 12 RR Lindwall b Laker 0 *IWG Johnson c Swetman b Laker 0 AK Davidson c May b Laker 21 WPA Crawford b Laker 16 JW Wilson c Swetman b Laker 4