On This Day in 1956: Jim Laker’s first 10-wicket haul
On May 16, 1956 Jim Laker completed the prized feat of claiming 10 wickets in an innings as Surrey took on the touring Australians at The Oval.
It is the kind of achievement most players would spend a career falling short of, but for Laker it was merely the pre-cursor to an even more astounding performance later that summer.
Here the PA news agency takes a closer look at Laker’s heroics.
Earning his England spot
Laker was no novice in the summer of 1956, having earned 24 Test caps in the previous eight years. His progress had slowed sharply after taking seven wickets in his first innings as an England player, though, and he was not selected for the 1954/55 tour of Australia while managing just a solitary appearance against South Africa in 1955. In short, he needed a big performance to restate his case.
Sleepless but selected
Laker reported to his home ground exhausted after a rough night looking after his sick daughter, but Surrey captain Stuart Surridge was insistent that the off-spinner should take the field. Any hopes of a rest in the pavilion disappeared when Australia won the toss and opted to bat. Surridge tossed Laker the ball midway through the opening session and before stumps had been pulled, he had pocketed stunning figures of 10 for 88.
Completing the set
When he took three wickets in two overs after tea, the crowd began to visibly swell as word of mouth passed down the news that Laker was working his magic on England’s oldest rivals. When Australia were nine down, batsman Keith Miller reportedly told Laker he would not allow him to take the full 10 and began hacking away frivolously at the other end. Dennis Cox dropped a catch that would have allowed Tony Lock to finish the innings, with some disagreement at the time about whether or not it was deliberate. In the end it was last man Jack Wilson who gave way, caught behind in debated circumstances by Roy Swetman.
Swanton’s verdict
The famed cricket writer EW Swanton was in attendance and had this to say of Laker’s bowling: “Nothing less describes the unfailing accuracy, the power of spin, and the little variations on a theme of a perfect length which brought him the glory.”
On to Old Trafford
Laker continued to bewilder the tourists, taking 20 wickets in the first three Ashes Tests before being let loose on a big-turning Old Trafford pitch in Manchester. What followed was the best bowling figures ever recorded – 19 for 90 across the match. The only wicket he did not take was that of Jim Burke, dismissed by spin partner Lock early in the first innings. It was the latter’s only reward for 69 overs of toil, while everything Laker touched turned to gold. Only one other player has ever taken all wickets in a Test innings – India’s Anil Kumble against Pakistan in 1999.
Latest
-
Women's Cricket
It’s a lot of fun – Heather Knight still enjoying captaining England
Knight succeeded Charlotte Edwards, who had a decade-long stint in the position, in June 2016.
-
England
On this day in 2018: Kevin Pietersen retires from professional cricket
The latter years of the Pietermaritzburg-born maverick’s career were spent on the T20 circuit.
-
England
Jofra Archer snaps off stump on impressive return from injury in India
The 28-year-old took two for 22 in seven overs.
-
County Cricket
Darren Gough steps down as managing director of cricket at Yorkshire
Gough said it was the “right time” to move on having been in the post since December 2021.
-
England
On this day in 2004: Steve Harmison takes seven for 12 against West Indies
The pace bowler produced a devastating spell at Sabina Park 20 years ago.
-
England
Jos Buttler feels refreshed and ready to enjoy ‘best years’ of his career
England’s white-ball team endured a poor 2023 which culminated in the disastrous defence of their World Cup crown in India.
-
England
Jos Buttler confident ‘special cricketer’ Jofra Archer will be fit for World Cup
Archer has not represented his country since last March when he featured in a T20 match in Bangladesh.
-
Indian Premier League
England batter Harry Brook withdraws from IPL following death of his grandmother
Brook pulled out of England’s five-Test tour to India before the squad flew out from their training camp in the United Arab Emirates.