--- title: "How Hedley Verity took the cheapest 10-fer in cricket history" canonical: "https://readcricket.com/2026/05/19/how-hedley-verity-took-the-cheapest-10-fer-in-cricket-cricket-news/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Aaron McNicholas" section: "Features" published: "2026-05-19T06:13:00Z" modified: "2026-05-19T06:13:00Z" --- # How Hedley Verity took the cheapest 10-fer in cricket history ### **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](https://yorkshireccc.com/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** > Arthur Mitchell takes a sharp catch to dismiss Herbie Wade off the bowling of Hedley Verity, England v SA, 3rd Test, Leeds, July 15th 1935. This catch was near the start of a dramatic collapse which saw SA lose 8 wickets for 51. Verity finished with figures of 12-9-5-2 [pic.twitter.com/wsP6XzNI4E](https://t.co/wsP6XzNI4E) > > — Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) [August 26, 2023](https://twitter.com/PictureSporting/status/1695446248655028457?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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. **Read more:** [How Jason Gillespie Made Cricket History as the Only Nightwatchman to Smash a Double Century](https://readcricket.com/2026/04/26/how-jason-gillespie-became-the-highest-scoring-nightwatchman-cricket-news/) ## **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** > England head put after enforcing the follow-on v Australia, 2nd Test, Lord's, June 25th 1934. On an amazing day Hedley Verity (middle) took 14 wickets on a rain-affected pitch, finishing with match figures of 15 for 104. It was England's last Ashes win on the ground until 2009 [pic.twitter.com/wkTsQ4AV3w](https://t.co/wkTsQ4AV3w) > > — Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) [June 25, 2023](https://twitter.com/PictureSporting/status/1672967128314462208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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** > The final day of first-class cricket in 1939 at an almost deserted Hove where [@YorkshireCCC](https://twitter.com/YorkshireCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'s Hedley Verity took 7 for 9 as Sussex capitulated for 33 in their second innings. Four years later Verity was killed leading his men in Sicily. [pic.twitter.com/ynKmhJdVzw](https://t.co/ynKmhJdVzw) > > — Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) [September 1, 2018](https://twitter.com/PictureSporting/status/1035820591503364096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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. **Also read:** [5 fast bowlers who captained in the IPL (ft. Jasprit Bumrah)](https://readcricket.com/2026/05/15/fast-bowlers-who-captained-ipl-teams-jasprit-bumrah-cricket-news/) ## **Why the cheapest 10-fer in cricket may never be broken** > At the moment I am hopefully on this train … Hedley verity, Stan McCabe, Don Bradman, and Vic Richardson stretch their legs on the Nullarbour travelling from Perth to Adelaide, October 1932. The teams travelled together from Western Australia to the east [pic.twitter.com/xx5ToZ2uei](https://t.co/xx5ToZ2uei) > > — Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) [January 8, 2026](https://twitter.com/PictureSporting/status/2009161649362513934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) 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. **Stay up to date with all the latest [cricket features content](https://readcricket.com/features/) with ReadCricket.**