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Jim Laker's 99th birth anniversary.
Put a 150-wicket cut-off, and his average of 21.24 is the best among spinners in the history of Test cricket.
It is unfair to restrict his legacy to his 19/90 (9/37 and 10/53) in the Old Trafford Test of Ashes 1956.
He was a superb bowler.
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Put a 150-wicket cut-off, and his average of 21.24 is the best among spinners in the history of Test cricket.
It is unfair to restrict his legacy to his 19/90 (9/37 and 10/53) in the Old Trafford Test of Ashes 1956.
He was a superb bowler.
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In fact, that was hardly his only freak spell.
Laker went to Salts High School, Saltaire, where he once took 6/0. The opposition was bowled out for 1.
He was posted as a Corporal at Cairo during World War 2. He took 6/10 against the Australian Servicemen.
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Laker went to Salts High School, Saltaire, where he once took 6/0. The opposition was bowled out for 1.
He was posted as a Corporal at Cairo during World War 2. He took 6/10 against the Australian Servicemen.
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Laker Skittles Australians, ran the headline on Egyptian Gazette.
A first of many similar headlines.
Laker was picked for a Test trial match, in 1950, for England against The Rest.
He returned figures of 14-12-2-8. Those two runs haunted him.
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A first of many similar headlines.
Laker was picked for a Test trial match, in 1950, for England against The Rest.
He returned figures of 14-12-2-8. Those two runs haunted him.
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One, as per prior agreement, was deliberately conceded to his friend Eric Bedser.
He never got over that decision.
The other happened "only because Trevor Bailey and I both went to field the ball and collided."
But let us return to 1956.
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He never got over that decision.
The other happened "only because Trevor Bailey and I both went to field the ball and collided."
But let us return to 1956.
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Brylcreem had announced £100 and a silver cup for the best bowling figures of the season.
In May, Laker took 10/88 against Australians.
This was not in the Test. He was playing for Surrey at The Oval.
In June, Ken Smailes of Gloucestershire got 10/66 against Nottinghamshire.
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In May, Laker took 10/88 against Australians.
This was not in the Test. He was playing for Surrey at The Oval.
In June, Ken Smailes of Gloucestershire got 10/66 against Nottinghamshire.
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With Laker not playing, Tony Lock grabbed 10/54 (for Surrey against Kent) in July.
So Laker took 10/53 in a Test match.
This was, thus, the second time he took 10 wickets in an innings against the Australians in 1956.
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So Laker took 10/53 in a Test match.
This was, thus, the second time he took 10 wickets in an innings against the Australians in 1956.
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Media, fans, celebrations, and all that meant that Laker could not leave Old Trafford before 8 that night.
He then had a "a couple of very stale cheese sandwiches" and beer in a pub at Lichfield, Straffordshire, watching himself bowl on television.
Nobody recognised him.
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He then had a "a couple of very stale cheese sandwiches" and beer in a pub at Lichfield, Straffordshire, watching himself bowl on television.
Nobody recognised him.
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By the time he was home, his wife Lilly had attended a barrage of phone calls: "Jim, did you do something good today?"
Note:
She was a wonderful person, but Austrians are typically not great on cricket. Her and Jim's relationship demands a separate thread later.
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Note:
She was a wonderful person, but Austrians are typically not great on cricket. Her and Jim's relationship demands a separate thread later.
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My favourite cartoon on the spell was this, by Roy Ulyett, on Daily Express (note the signboard):
PS
Five years after Laker's 8/2 at Bradford, Charlie Palmer of Leicestershire had taken 8/0 against Surrey.
Laker played six consecutive maidens, then got a three from fine-leg.
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PS
Five years after Laker's 8/2 at Bradford, Charlie Palmer of Leicestershire had taken 8/0 against Surrey.
Laker played six consecutive maidens, then got a three from fine-leg.
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PPS
The Newlands Test of 1964/65 was headed for a draw. Almost all Englishmen bowled.
Barrington decided to mimic Laker's action and finished with career-best figures of 3.1-1-4-3.
Even a Laker replica was capable of freakish figures!
The Newlands Test of 1964/65 was headed for a draw. Almost all Englishmen bowled.
Barrington decided to mimic Laker's action and finished with career-best figures of 3.1-1-4-3.
Even a Laker replica was capable of freakish figures!
