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Laker spun the ball fiercely on a drying pitch when taking his record wicket haul. Pitches were left uncovered during the hours of play at the time and pitches drying out after a soaking were notoriously difficult to bat on. Uncovered pitches remained in use in England later than anywhere else, being used in Test cricket until 1972 and in county cricket until 1981. In the first innings at Old Trafford in 1956 Laker took 9 for 37, long before the wicket became “sticky”.