Laker was the first to take all 10 wickets in a Test matchinnings, in the fourth Test against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956 (the only other bowler to take all 10 wickets is Anil Kumble of India). Having also taken 9 wickets in the first innings, he recorded match figures of 19-90: no other bowler has taken more than seventeen wickets in a first-class match.
He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1952. He played 46 Test matches, taking 193 wickets with a bowling average of 21.24; in first-class matches, he took 1,944 wickets at 18.41.
After his retirement, he became a commentator on BBCtelevision's cricket coverage.
External link
Cricinfo Player Profile : James Charles Laker (http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/PLAYERS/ENG/L/LAKER_JC_01000807/)
In his first full season, 1947, Jim finished top of the Surrey - and seventh in the National - bowling averages and was selected for the MCC winter tour of the West Indies.
In 1948 Laker came in for some heavy punishment against the formidable Australians, and his failure cost him dearly in the eyes of the selectors.
Jim became specially registered for Essex in 1962 and appeared for them on and off for three seasons, in which he took his tally of first-classwickets to 1,944 at an average of 18.40.
Laker was the first to take all 10 wickets in a Test match innings, ten for 53 in the Australians' second innings of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in 1956 (the only other bowler to take all 10 wickets is Anil Kumble of India in 1999).
Laker was married to an Austrian national who did not know much about cricket.
In later years Laker was a highly regarded cricket commentator for BBC television.
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