Jim Laker

JIM LAKER autograph d1986. English cricketer of the 1950s, especially well-known for "Laker's match" at Old Trafford in 1956, when as a bowler he amazingly took nineteen wickets in England's victory against Australia. In all he played 46 Test matches between 1948-1959 taking 193 wickets with an average of 21.24 ; in all first-class matches he took 1,944 wickets at 18.41. In later life he carved out a highly succesful career as a BBC TV cricket commentator alongside John Arlott. He died aged 64 in 1986.