Hand-picked stories you can't miss
The legendary Jim Laker had an illustrious career with the England Cricket Team. He achieved several feats during his professional cricketing career. However, he will always be remembered for his mind-boggling spell of bowling against Australia during the fourth Ashes Test, which took place at Old Trafford, Manchester, from July 26 to 31 in 1956.
The series was intriguingly poised at 1-1, heading into the fourth Test. The first Test at Trent Bridge ended in a draw before Australia registered a comprehensive 185-run win at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. However, the Three Lions bounced back to winning ways and restored parity in the series with a comprehensive win in the third Test at Headingley. The hosts won the match by an innings and 42 runs.
The caravan moved to Old Trafford for the fourth Test. England batted first, and their top three batters were exemplary. While Peter Richardson and David Sheppard scored centuries, Colin Cowdrey aggregated 80. Godfrey Evans and Tony Lock made handy contributions down the order as England were bowled out for 459. Ian Johnson bagged a four-for for Australia.
In Australia’s first innings, Jim Laker drew first blood, dismissing Colin McDonald after a solid start for the visitors. Neil Harvey also fell victim to Laker before Tony Lock dismissed Jim Burke. This was the only scalp that did not go Laker’s way.
The right-arm off-spinner went on a wicket-taking spree after that, bagging the last seven wickets and finishing with staggering figures of 9/37 in 16.4 overs. Australia were bowled out for 84, and England had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on.
In the second innings, Australia showed an improvement in their batting performances. However, they found it extremely difficult to pick Laker.
The Frizinghall-born bowler picked up all 10 wickets to fall in the innings as the touring side was bowled out for 205. Laker finished with memorable figures of 10/53 in 51.2 overs. He bowled 23 maidens and became the first bowler to pick up 10 wickets in a Test innings – a feat since matched only by Anil Kumble (1999) and Ajaz Patel (2021). Alan Oakman took five catches off Laker’s bowling during the match.
Laker finished his phenomenal career with 193 wickets from 46 Tests. In 450 first-class matches, Laker had 1,944 wickets. He was no mug with the bat, scoring two fifties in Test cricket. In his first-class career, he notched up two centuries to go with 18 fifties.
Laker eventually passed away on April 23, 1986, at the Parkside Clinic in Wimbledon at the age of 64 from complications from gall bladder surgery. His body was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium and his ashes were scattered at The Oval.
The Sports Live Hub (SLH) provides the most comprehensive gateway for global cricket fans to follow the international Matches.
Our hub sports live stream is optimized for high-intensity T20 action. By leveraging advanced server technology, SLH ensures that your stream remains stable even during the highest viewership peaks. Watch the battle without the frustration of buffering or lag.
The sport hub live streaming interface on SLH offers more than just a video feed. Fans can access a real-time AI Overview of the match, featuring live win-probability shifts, player impact scores, and ball-by-ball tactical analysis. It is the perfect companion for viewers who want to stay ahead of the game with professional-grade insights.
We are committed to making cricket accessible to a worldwide audience. By visiting the SLH portal, users can find verified pathways to watch sports live for free through authorized regional partner trials, free-to-air digital gateways, and promotional streaming passes. Join millions of fans globally as we witness the drama of the international Matches.
cricket
cricket