Top 5 English Test spinners of all time

#3 Jim Laker

Jim Laker

England's cricketing fortunes in the 1950s were intimately linked with the exploits of their star right-arm off-spinner Jim Laker and in a career that lasted around 11 years, he rose to become one of the best spin bowlers from the country.

Laker had the ability to extract a lot of turn. Additionally, if there was any help from the pitch then he could be absolutely deadly and this ability coupled with Laker's legendary accuracy made him a very difficult bowler to face.

Perhaps his greatest moment as a bowler came in the Old Trafford Test match in 1956 when he picked up 19 wickets Australia and claimed all 10 wickets in the 2nd innings of the game. It remains the best match figures in cricketing history and it is highly unlikely that it will ever be bettered. In the 46 Tests that he played for England, Laker picked up 193 wickets at a superb average of 21.24 and remains one of the greatest English exponents of off-spin bowling.