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FEATURE-Cricket-Laker bowling feat defied logic and probability

By John Mehaffey

LONDON, July 25 - Once in a generation sport
throws up an oddity defying logic and the laws of probability,

Fifty years ago this Thursday, England and Australia began
the fourth Ashes test at Manchester's Old Trafford with the
series tied 1-1.

Six days later, England completed a crushing victory with
Jim Laker taking 19 of the 20 Australian wickets. Theoretically
someone, somewhere could better Laker's record. It is a safe bet
that no one ever will.

Years later England all rounder Trevor Bailey recalled his
incredulity.

"I said afterwards, turning to Peter Richardson as we left
the field, 'We have taken part in something which will never
happen again. No one will take 19 wickets in a test match
again'. It didn't make sense then and it still doesn't."

After the first test had been drawn, Keith Miller took 10
wickets to win the second for Australia at Lord's.

Laker, who had already taken all 10 Australian wickets in an
innings for Surrey, captured 11 in the third test at Headingley
to set up an England win.

Now the teams were to meet on a Old Trafford pitch seemingly
devoid of grass after it had been heavily fertilised with red
marl.

"The pitch...was shaven bare and marled," wrote the Observer
cricket writer Alan Ross. "The outfield, in contrast to the
red-brown Suez Canal-coloured playing strip, was a rich oasis
green."

SUEZ CRISIS

The simile would not have been lost on his readers. In the
same year the Observer infuriated the government and alarmed
thousands of its subscribers with its resolute opposition to air
attacks by Britain and France on Egypt after it nationalised the
Suez Canal.

At Old Trafford there was no immediate indication of the
sensations to follow when England compiled 459 in their first
innings with Richardson (104) and Colin Cowdrey (80) putting on
174 for the first wicket. The Reverend David Shepherd, one of a
number of inspired England selections that summer, struck 113 in
a short break from his parish duties.

Already puffs of dust were flying from the pitch and former
Lancashire and England wicketkeeper George Duckworth,
commentating for the BBC, remarked: "I wouldn't want to be a
pace bowler on there but spin bowlers, I think, should get
something out of it in a day or two."

As understatements go, Duckworth's thoughts deserved an
award of their own as Laker spun his way remorselessly through
the Australian batting.

The Yorkshire-born off spinner had been blamed for failing
to bowl out Don Bradman's Australians in favourable conditions
in the 1948 Headingley test. Seven dropped catches, including
three off Laker, were more important factors.

Still Laker was not required on a succession of tour parties
and found it difficult to command a permanent place at home,
despite his extraordinary figures of eight for two in the 1950
test trial.

ARTHRITIC FINGER

Those who played with and against him swore they could hear
the ball buzz through the air, such was the rip he gave it from
an index finger which was to become arthritic long before he
retired. By 1956 he was the ultimate off spinner with a relaxed
economical runup, delivering from a braced left leg, and
commanding a precise mastery of flight, line and length
unmatched by any other bowler of his type in history.

When Peter May turned to Laker and his Surrey spin twin Tony
Lock on the second day, England had still to take a wicket.
Seventeen overs later Australia still had all their first
innings wickets on the board.

Then May switched the pair around and Australia tumbled from
48 without loss to 84 all out. In 3.4 overs after tea Laker,
somewhat to his bemusement, took seven for eight. Lock, whose
waspish left arm spin persistently beat the bat, had the wicket
of Jim Burke to show for his labours. It was the only wicket
which would not be credited to Laker.

Rain and the obdurate Colin McDonald threatened to deny
England their victory before the sun came out on the fifth day.
McDonald was caught in the leg trap for 89 and Laker went on to
take all 10 wickets, finishing with 19 for 90.

The Australians were openly disgusted with the pitch and
Richie Benaud showed his displeasure in the second innings by
continually holding up play to check his guard or pat down
imaginary divots.

Bailey believed an English county side, containing batsmen
who had learned their trade on uncovered pitches, would have
coped better than the Australians. Ross agreed.

"One has a right to expect from test cricketers a certain
degree of adaptability," Ross commented. "The Australian batting
during their brief innings on Friday night was bereft of all
heart and skill."

The final day was typical of an era when overt emotion was
seen as bad form. After each wicket Laker hitched up his
trousers and sauntered up the pitch, indicating merely that he
was rather pleased.

After the match the players soon dispersed and Laker stopped
at a pub on his return to London where a television set was
showing highlights of the day's play. Nobody recognised him.

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