Sporting icons : Headley Varety - Master left arm english spinner - Career HLs

 

Clifford Headley "Hedley" Verity: Master of Spin and Sacrifice

Introduction & Style of Play:
Hedley Verity was born on May 18, 1905, in Headingley, Leeds, England. A slow left-arm orthodox spinner, Verity was renowned for his immaculate control, flight, accuracy, and subtle variation. He was a classical spinner who relied not on extravagant turn, but on guile, precision, and relentless pressure. Though not known for flamboyance, his methodical approach made him one of England’s most reliable and deadly bowlers in the 1930s.

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Career Highlights in Detail:
Verity made his Test debut for England in 1931 and played until 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II. During this time, he was an ever-present threat to opposition batsmen, especially on uncovered pitches that suited his spin.

He played 40 Test matches, taking 144 wickets at an average of 24.37, including 7 five-wicket hauls. Against Australia — a top opponent of the era — he delivered several memorable spells, including the dismissals of Don Bradman more than any other bowler of his time (eight times in Tests).

For Yorkshire in county cricket, Verity was a titan. In first-class cricket, he took an astounding 1,956 wickets in just 278 matches at a bowling average of 14.90, with 101 five-wicket hauls and 33 instances of ten wickets in a match. His consistency helped Yorkshire dominate county cricket during the 1930s.

He was also a capable lower-order batsman and a superb fielder in close catching positions, especially at short leg.

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Test Record:

• Matches: 40
• Wickets: 144
• Average: 24.37
• Best Bowling: 8/43
• Five-Wicket Hauls: 7
• Ten-Wicket Matches: 1

First-Class Record:

• Matches: 278
• Wickets: 1,956
• Average: 14.90
• Best Bowling in an Innings: 10/10 (yes, all ten wickets)
• Five-Wicket Hauls: 101
• Ten-Wicket Matches: 33

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Best Performances:

• 10/10 vs Nottinghamshire, 1932 – One of the most remarkable achievements in first-class cricket: all 10 wickets in an innings.
• 15 wickets for 104 runs vs Australia at Lord’s, 1934 – A dominant performance against the world’s best batting side.
• 8/43 vs South Africa, 1931 – A debut series performance that underlined his class.

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Legacy:
Hedley Verity’s legacy is defined not only by his cricketing brilliance but by his character and sacrifice. At the peak of his career, he enlisted to serve in World War II. Tragically, he was wounded in the Sicilian campaign in 1943 and later died from his injuries as a prisoner of war at age 38.

Verity’s name is etched in cricketing folklore as a bowler of rare skill and as a man of courage and integrity. His records, especially in county cricket, stand unmatched for a spinner. Remembered as a gentleman cricketer and a fallen hero, his story remains one of the most poignant in the history of the sport.