Jim Laker sandpapers his forefinger to get proper grip of ball

by A. C. de Silva

CRICKET: There are so many records that are attached to the game of cricket and a number of these keep changing hands with cricket being spread throughout the world. However in this noble game, there is one record that has stood the test of time for 51 years and will be there for many years to come.

The record in question is the one held by England cricketer Jim Laker, who during his cricketing career had a marvellous 'take' of 19 wickets for 90 runs against Australia on the Old Trafford turf in 1956,

Though Laker is not among the living these days (he died on April 23 in 1986), his many deeds and particular this fantastic effort in the Test against Australia, will live long in the memory of all cricket fans who were fortunate enough to listen to the radio commentaries on that historic day.

Laker did not get to that fantastic performance merely bowling. He really earned for his wickets and made adequate preparations. Laker always carried a piece of sandpaper when he went for the important matches. With it, he used to rub a hardened part of the skin on the forefinger of his hefty right-hand, This hardened skin is formed by constant pressure against spin.

After soaking the skin in a particular kind of medicinal oil, Laker sandpapers the edges smooth so that the ball's seam will not tear the flesh. When a cricket writer asked Laker whether the hand hurt as a result of sandpaper being used when taking the wickets in the third Test at Leeds, Laker was heard to remark that it was not so bad that year.

Ten years of bowling off-breaks for Surrey and England has made Laker's right forefinger half-an-inch longer and noticeably thicker than his left.

Marvellous feat

How one bowler can take 19 wickets in a Test match still remains as a acute puzzle as it happened in that Test at Old Trafford.

He had figures of 9 for 37 in 15.4 overs with 4 maidens in the first innings against Australia, and with Australia forced to follow-on, captured all ten wickets in the second innings for 53 runs to have more than eye-catching match figures of 19 for 90 in the match which enabled England to beat Australia by an innings and 170 runs. England made 459 runs in their first innings.

Laker, a Yorkshireman of independent views, later became a popular T. V. commentator and wrote several books too.

He exceeded 100 wickets in a season 11 times. His best year came in 1950 when he accounted for 166 wickets at an average of 15.32. He was also a leading figure in Surrey's amazing run of championship success when they won the title every year between 1952 and 1958.

Just imagine the scene in old Trafford, Manchester on that eventful day in July 1956. England made 459 when they batted first with centuries coming off the bats of P. E. Richardson 104, Rev. D. S. Sheppherd 113, Colin Cowdrey 80. Godfrey Evans 47, Peter May 43. Then Australia made a spirited start with 48 being put on for the first wicket with Colin McDonald (32) and Jim Burke (22) shaping up well. The total went upto 62 for 2 wickets at tea at which stage all hell broke loose. In around 37 dramatic minutes, Australia were all out for 84 with England's off-spinner James (Jim) Charles Laker having an innings bag of 9 for 37 runs. There was no valid reason for Australia to fold up so meekly and they had the igonimity of having to follow-on and Laker used all the skills at his command - and he had a whole lot of them, to 'fix' the Aussies.

Apart from the two openers - C. C. McDonald (89) and Jim Burke (33) the others failed - Australia's left-hand 'great' Neil Harvey was out for two 'ducks', Ian Craig, Keith Miller, Ken Mackay, Ron Archer, Richie Benaud and Ray Linkdwall were out for poor scores.

No hope

So, with the top stars getting out cheaply, there was no hope for the Aussies and they were all out for 205 runs in their follow-on to hand out a handsome victory to England and Laker had it all for himself taking all ten wickets in the second innings for 53 runs in 51.2 overs.

So, it was 19 wickets for Jim Laker and his spin partner - left-armer Tony Lock took the other wicket and with England winning by an innings and 170 runs, they went on to retain the 'Ashes' by 2 matches to 1 with 2 Tests drawn.

Die-hard Sri Lankan cricket fans had a fleeting moment of seeing the great-off-spinner Jim Laker in action-on our shores. He was here with the England team captained by Peter May on the tour to Australia in 1958-59 but the customary whistle-stop match was washed-out by rain with just two hours of play being possible.

Unlike "Typhoon" Tyson or "Tiger" O'Reilly, nothing about this placid, Yorkshire veteran Laker, gives a hint that he is the torturer who has rubbed most Australian batsman's nerves raw on wickets aiding his spin.

Laker used to roll his broad-beamed 14-stone along like a 6th ft. policeman on the last half-mile of his beat. His eyes used to be mild blue, his smile as slow and broad as his Yorkshire accent (he was born in Bradford).

Family man

Jim Laker was a family man where he met his Austrian wife Lilly while he was a sergeant in the Middle East where he first dropped fast bowling to take up off-breaks.

He had exceptional control of length and direction and he was able to turn the ball more than any other off-spinner, except Hugh Tayfield, change his pace more cleverly and slip in a straight one or one that cuts away to the off.

Laker used to deliver off his seventh heavy stride and kept the batsmen guessing whether the ball will turn or come straight on. To right-hand batsmen he likes to post three close fielders to pick up catches in the leg-trap.

At a certain time of his career, Jim Laker was banned and disowned by English cricket authorities. The MCC withdrew Laker's membership and the Surrey County Club cancelled his life pass to the Oval after Laker's criticism of fellow players in a book.

The man he criticised most as captain of Surrey and England Peter May. Laker, however, was granted honourary life membership by MCC in recognition of the outstanding off-spin bowling which brought him 193 wickets in Tests including world record of 46 victims in five tests against the Australian team in England in 1956.

Memorable match

England 1st Innings

P. E. Richardson C. Maddocks b Benaud 104, M. C. Cowdrey c Maddocks b Lindwall 80, Rev. D. S. Shepphard b Archer 113, Peter May c Archer b Benaud 43, T. E. Bailey b Johnson 20, C. Washbrook lbw b Johnson 6, A. S. M. Oakman c Archer b Johnson 10, T. G. Evans St. Maddocks b Johnson 47, J. C. Laker run out 3, G. A. R. Lock not out 25, J. B. Statham c Maddocks b Lindwall 0, extras (B2, LB 5, W1) 08; Total: 459

Wickets fell at: 174, 195, 288, 321, 327, 339, 401, 417, 456.

Bowling: Lindwall 21.3-6-63-2, Miller 21-6-41-0, Archer 22-6-73-1, Johnson 47-10-151-4, Benaud 47-17-123-2.

Australia 1st Innings

C. C. McDonald c Lock b Laker 32, J. W. Burke c Cowdrey b Lock 22, R. N. Harvey b Laker o, I. D. Craig 1bw b Laker 8, K. R. Miller c Oakman b Laker 6, K. Mackay c Oakman b Laker 0, R. G. Archer c Evans b Laker 6, R. Benaud c Statham b Laker 0, R. R. Lindwall c not out 6, L. Maddocks b Laker 4, I. W. Johnson b Laker 0, Extras 0, Total: 84.

Wickets fell at: 48, 48, 62, 62, 62, 73, 73, 78.

Bowling: J. Statham 6-3-6-0, T.E. Bailey 4-3-4-0, J. Laker 15.4-4-37-9, G. A. R. Lock 14-2-37-1.

Australia 2nd Innings

C. C. McDonald c Oakman b Laker 89, J. W. Burke c Lock b Laker 33, R. N. Harvey c Cowdrey b Laker 0, I. D. Craig lbw b Laker 38, K. R. Miller b Laker 0, K. Mackay c Oakman b Laker 0, R. G. Archer c Oakman b Laker 0, R. Benaud b Laker 18, R. R. Lindwall c Lock b Laker 8, L. Maddocks lbw b Laker 2, I. W. Johnson not out 1

Extras (B12, LB 4) 16

Total: 205.

Wickets fell at: 10, 55, 114, 124, 150, 154, 191, 198 and 205.

Bowling: J. B. Statham 16-9-15-0, T. E. Bailey 20-8-31-0, J. Laker 51.2-23-53-10, G. A. R. Lock 53-30-69-0, A. S. M. Oakman 8-2-21-0.