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
Sleepless but selected
Completing the set
Swanton’s verdict
On to Old Trafford
10/53 and 19/90 – #OnThisDay in 1956 Jim Laker took the first Test 10 wicket haul to achieve the best match figures in Test history. pic.twitter.com/NGByljIDlw
— ICC (@ICC) July 31, 2017
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.
