July 31st,1956: When England's Jim Laker Completed 19 Wickets in a Test at Manchester

When you speak about some of the most significant bowling records in world cricket, then you have to name the former English spinner Jim Laker.

He was one of the masters of his spin bowling back in the 1950’s and 60’s. Jim Laker remains the only bowler to bag 19 wickets in a Test match. Laker also holds the unique record of being only one of the two players to have bagged a ten-wicket haul in a Test inning. India’s Anil Kumble also achieved the feat in 1999.

Jim Laker is definitely regarded as one of the best spinners to have graced the game for England. All and sundry will forever remember him for his breathtaking performance in the 4^th Ashes Test of the 1956 edition. He bowled with guile and scripted a historic achievement.

It was on this very day in 1956 that Laker achieved the unthinkable against Australia. In his 46 Test career, he bagged 193 wickets. It included nine five-wicket hauls and three ten-wicket hauls during his career. The spinner bagged the historic 19 wickets at Manchester.

Jim Laker bags 19 wickets 

It was the 4^th match of the five-match series when Laker bagged the 19 wickets which are still the best figures by a bowler in a Test match in many years to come. The series was locked at 1-1 when the 4^th match began.

In the first innings, England posted a mammoth 459. Peter Richardson and David Sheppard scored respective centuries to help England stamp their authority. Australia was skittled out for just 84 runs.

Laker ended with exceptional figures of 9/37. It also became the best figures in an Ashes match. However, what transpired in the 2^nd innings was a piece of history.

England enforced the follow-on Australia and Laker ended up bagging all the ten wickets. He bettered his record and ran through the Australian batting line-up.

Australia was bowled out for 205, thus handing England a comfortable victory by an in innings and 70 runs.

The figures of 19/90 remain the best figures by a bowler in the longest format of the game.

It is almost impossible to better the record. It was back in 1999 that Indian spinner Anil Kumble bagged a ten-wicket haul in an innings against Pakistan in Delhi.