Verity's 14 in a Day at Lord's — England Beat Australia, 1934

Australia, captained by Bill Woodfull, had drawn the first Test at Trent Bridge. Lord's was Verity's home Test in spirit if not geography; the Yorkshire spinner had been the conscience of the 1932-33 Bodyline tour. Pitches at Lord's were uncovered on rest days then, a quirk that would matter enormously by the third morning.

England 440 in their first innings (Leyland 109, Ames 120). Australia replied with 284 by close on day two. Then a Sunday rest day, a thunderstorm, and a wet uncovered pitch greeted Monday morning.

England had batted first on a slow Lord's pitch and made 440, with Maurice Leyland 109 and Les Ames 120. Australia replied with 284 by close on the second day, Bradman 36 not out. The rest day produced a thunderstorm; the pitch was uncovered, and on the third morning Verity at breakfast looked out of the dining-room window of his hotel and said quietly to teammates, 'I shouldn't wonder if we have some fun today.'

In the morning session he took the last six Australian wickets of the first innings for next to nothing, including Bradman caught and bowled for 36 attempting a slog. England did not enforce the follow-on; instead a quick declaration left Australia 304 to chase. Verity then took 8 for 43 in the second innings as Australia, helpless on a sticky wicket, were dismissed for 118. Bradman was caught at deep mid-off attempting another aerial drive. Total for the day: 14 wickets at five and a half runs each.

England won by an innings and 38. The win meant nothing for the urn — Australia regained it 2-1 in the series — but the figures meant everything for Verity's reputation. 14 wickets in a day in a Test had never been done; it has not been done since. Only Jim Laker's 19 for 90 at Old Trafford in 1956, taken across multiple days, has bettered Verity's match figures of 15 for 104 in an Ashes Test.

“I shouldn't wonder if we have some fun today.”

“Verity bowled at the spot of his choice and the ball did the rest.”

England's only Lord's Ashes win of the entire 20th century. Australia, however, regrouped and went on to win the series 2-1, taking the Headingley and Oval Tests. Bradman finished the series with 758 runs at 94.75 — Verity's two dismissals were the rare blots on his English summer.

Verity's match figures of 15 for 104 are still the best by an England bowler against Australia in any Test outside Jim Laker's 19/90 in 1956. He took 144 Test wickets in 40 matches before WWII; he died in an Italian POW hospital in 1943 after being wounded leading his Green Howards in the Salerno landings.