Spinner's delight

Jim Laker's heroic 19-90 effort in the fourth Ashes Test was celebrated 50 years ago this week. The Lord's Taverners will also hold a special dinner on 18 September at the Savoy Hotel in London to commemorate Laker's feats - he had taken 20 wickets in the three previous games as well - and will be attended by some of the best spinners the world has seen.

The organisers have invited five of the six surviving Aussies who featured in Laker's Old Trafford match, while Shane Warne, Richie Benaud and Derek Underwood will also make appearances.

With Monty Panesar currently jumping for joy with England and Murali on the road to 700 wickets (what's to say he can't reach 1000), spinners are finally being recognised - the dinner a prelude to what could be a spinners' battle in the Ashes two months later.