At a glance
- Hedley Verity claimed 10 wickets for just 10 runs at Headingley
- The Yorkshire spinner remains the most economical all-ten bowler in first-class cricket
- Verity’s legendary spell also included a rare hat-trick
Few records in cricket carry the same sense of disbelief as Hedley Verity’s remarkable 10 for 10, a bowling performance that still stands untouched in the history of first-class cricket.
The legendary Yorkshire left-arm spinner produced the extraordinary figures against Nottinghamshire at Headingley in 1932, claiming all 10 wickets while conceding only 10 runs in one of the sport’s most astonishing displays of accuracy and control.
More than nine decades later, Verity’s feat remains the cheapest all-ten haul ever recorded in first-class cricket.
A spell for the ages at Headingley
Verity’s spell against Nottinghamshire has long been regarded as one of cricket’s defining bowling masterclasses.
Playing for Yorkshire at Headingley, the slow left-armer tore through the opposition batting line-up with relentless precision. His figures of 10 for 10 remain the best innings bowling analysis in first-class history.
What makes the achievement even more extraordinary is that the spell also included a hat-trick, making it the only known all-ten haul in first-class cricket to feature three wickets in three balls.
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Hedley Verity dominated county cricket in the 1930s
The Nottinghamshire demolition was not an isolated moment of brilliance.
Earlier in the same summer, Verity had already claimed another all-ten haul at Headingley, taking 10 for 36 against Warwickshire. It confirmed his status as one of Yorkshire’s finest ever slow bowlers and cemented his place among cricket’s elite.
Across a glittering first-class career, Verity collected 1,956 wickets at a staggering average of 14.90 while striking once every 42 deliveries.
Those numbers remain almost unmatched for a bowler who operated across such a long period.
Verity also tormented Australia in Test cricket
Verity shone on the international stage during a 40-Test career for England.
One of his greatest performances came at Lord’s in 1934 when he claimed 15 wickets for 104 runs in England’s famous Ashes victory over Australia.
He also enjoyed a remarkable record against Sir Donald Bradman, dismissing the Australian icon eight times in Test cricket. No bowler removed Bradman more often in the format.
A cricket legend whose life ended too soon
Despite his extraordinary achievements, Verity’s life ended in heartbreaking circumstances.
During the Second World War he served in the British Army and was later captured in Italy. Verity died in a prisoner-of-war camp in Caserta in 1943 at the age of just 38.
His death robbed cricket of one of its true greats at a time when he still had much more to offer the game.
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Why the cheapest 10-fer in cricket may never be broken
While many bowling records have fallen over time, Verity’s astonishing 10 for 10 remains firmly intact.
At the opposite end of the scale, the most expensive all-ten haul in first-class cricket belongs to Eddie Hemmings, who took 10 for 175 for a touring International XI against a West Indies XI in Jamaica in 1982.
Yet when discussions turn to bowling greatness, Verity’s unforgettable day at Headingley still occupies a special place in cricket folklore.
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