Jim Laker: A Biography

by Alan Hill

In this perceptive and well-researched biography, Alan Hill traces the life and career of Jim Laker, possibly the greatest spin bowler ever to play for England. Off the field, Laker found himself in conflict with authority and unwilling to play when his oft-injured finger caused him problems. Things came to a head when a badly ghost-written book Over To Me, was published, and Laker was effectively forced out of cricket for 3 years, returning to play for Essex before retiring in 1965.

Genres: Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Huw Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is pretty much what I would want a cricket autobiography to be - not the sort of "who said this to whom", "why I told this reporter that" and "what that tweet did to the dressing room" sort of frivolous tripe that is peddled as sporting autobiographies these days, but the proper, in depth portrayal of a man and the finer points of his art.

You can feel the pain in the callouses in Jim Laker's fingers, you can sense the rhythm of his run up and delivery, you can smell the sweat of his 30 over spells and follow his every thought as he thinks a batsman out over not just a spell, an innings or a match, but an entire series and even an entire career.

This is a proper cricketer's cricket book - they don't make them like this any more, and this cricket anorak thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Len · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography more for the cricket aficionado than the biography devotee. Cricketing terms are spread throughout with luscious abandon, sticky wickets, silly mid-ons, fine legs, off spin, firm drives through the covers. Jim Laker's playing career is presented in great detail from his Yorkshire school days at Salts High School in Saltaire, through his war years, to country cricket playing for Surrey, and on to his Test match triumph against the Australians in 1956: 19 wickets for 90 runs (for those unfamiliar with the game, that's 19 dismissals out of the maximum 20 possible in a match.) It could make a member of the MCC spill his bubbly down his red and yellow tie.

What is missing from the book is a detailed look at Laker's non-playing activities. As the author points out, for someone with Laker's ability his career seemed to drag at times. Being blamed for team failures, not being picked for Test tours overseas, being accused for not trying hard enough against belligerent batsmen, feigning injury to avoid bowling; all of these hurdles were placed in his way. But why? The author hints gently at Laker's attitude to the nature of cricket's hierarchy at the time. The controversy of gentlemen and players.

Gentlemen were amateurs. They played for the enjoyment of the sport and received expenses for their time – no doubt quite generous expenses. For the most part they came from fairly privileged backgrounds. Players were professionals. They were paid as employees. For the most part, and using the British class system terminology of the day, they were working class or lower middle class. For a long time all county and Test match captains were expected to be gentlemen and cricket administration was in the hands of former amateurs. The suggestion the author gives is that Jim Laker felt it was time for the system to change and was never shy in expressing his opinion, perhaps ignoring the possible consequences.

There were two stories to be told: facts, figures, and reminiscences for the sports fan; and the life of a young working class man making his way to the top of his profession and having to fight against prejudice and tradition to achieve success. I felt that the author sacrificed the latter to produce a fan's tribute. Finely written but limited in intent.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

First class biography of a true England great