Wikipedia:Today's featured article/July 31, 2013

Hedley Verity (1905–43) was a professional cricketer who played for Yorkshire and England between 1930 and 1939. He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1932 and is regarded by critics as one of the most effective slow left-arm bowlers to have played cricket. In 1932, he took all 10 wickets in an innings against Nottinghamshire while conceding just 10 runs. These bowling figures remain, as of 2013, a record in first-class cricket for the fewest runs conceded while taking all 10 wickets. Verity was never lower than fifth in the national bowling averages and took over 150 wickets in every year except his first, assisting Yorkshire to the County Championship seven times in his ten seasons with the club. He played regularly for England and achieved the best performance of his career when he took 15 wickets against Australia in a Test match at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1934. The outbreak of the Second World War ended his career and he joined the Green Howards in 1939, achieving the rank of captain. During the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943, Verity was severely wounded and captured by the Germans. Taken to Italy, he died in Caserta from his injuries and was buried there. (Full article...)

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