Jim Laker still stands alone in the record books for taking 19 wickets in a Test match. The off-spinner's feat of 10 wickets in an innings has only been equalled by India's Anil Kumble - and for more runs - in 1999.

 

Born in 1922 in English cricket's hotbed of Yorkshire, Laker found fame down south with the more genteel county of Surrey where he formed a lethal spin pairing with Tony Lock. Surrey in the 1950s were a formidable outfit, winning seven consecutive English County Championships between 1952 and '58 with Laker and Lock playing a major part in that success.

 

It was during that time, in 1956, that Laker performed his miracle for England in the Old Trafford Test against Australia. His match analysis of 19/90 - innings figures were 10/53 and 9/37 - were spoiled only by Lock taking the 20th wicket.On one other occasion he took 10 wickets in a match - again against the touring Australians in the same year - although on this occasion it was for Surrey at The Oval.

 

Only one other bowler - England's Syd Barnes in 1913/4 has taken as many as 17 wickets in a Test match. During that 1956 series Laker would take 46 scalps - and that statistic has only been bettered by Barnes against South Africa.

 

Laker took 193 wickets for England and 1,944 in all during his first-class career. In retirement he was a commentator for BBC television, sharing duties with his old Australian sparring partner Richie Benaud before his death in 1986.