Laker, Jim (1922–1986)

English cricketer. A tall, right-arm off-spinner who in the fourth Test against Australia at Manchester in 1956 returned figures of 9–37 and 10–53 to become the first bowler to take 19 wickets in a Test or first-class match, and to take 10 wickets in Test match innings.

Career highlights

Test cricket (1948–59) appearances: 46; overs: 2,004.3; wickets: 193; runs: 4,101; average: 21.24; best: 10–53 (v. Australia 1956); batting: runs: 676; average: 14.08; catches: 12

All first-class cricket (1946–64) appearances: 450; overs: 16,995.4; wickets: 1,944; runs: 35,791; average: 18.41; best: 10–53 (v. Australia 1956); batting: runs: 7,304; average: 16.60; catches: 270

Awards

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1952

A vital member of the formidable Surrey team which won a record seven consecutive County Championships between 1952 and 1958, he later became a respected television commentator on the game.

The Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble became the first player to emulate Laker's feat of taking all ten wickets in a Test match innings, returning figures of 10–74 in the second Test against Pakistan in Delhi, India, in February 1999.