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An
Introduction to Bodyline
The
aim of this site is to make sure that one of the most
famous cricket test series if not the most famous is not
forgotten. If you would like to learn more about the series
or would like to join the e-mail list, then please drop
me a line at
cricket@334notout.com
Don Bradman bowled by Bill Bowes for a duck
in his first Test innings at Melbourne (2nd Test)
The great Australian bowler and
teammate of Bradman's Bill O'Reilly said of Bodyline "What
we saw in Australia in 1932-33 was something quite different,
and really you could only say that the intention was to
scare the daylights out of the batsman, and to put him
off his natural game. There was no doubt in our minds
that when they put those five men close in on the leg
side they were trying to hit the batsman. Douglas Jardine
knew what had happened at the Oval in that last Test in
1930, and he knew that Bradman was the difference between
the two teams".
Although
England had a number of fast bowlers in their squad, Harold
Larwood is the name synonymous with the actual execution
of Bodyline. He was at the peak of his career and a quick
bowler who enjoyed the hard fast pitches of Australia.
He made life hell for the Australian batsman during the
series and took a bag full of wickets. However contrary
to popular belief he only struck two of the Australian
batsmen during the series, such was the myth of the man
and became hated by the Australian public. Jardine too
became unpopular with the Australian public and record
crowds attended the Test matches to see how the Australian's
handled the bowling. Tension also developed between the
two teams.
The
3rd
Test at Adelaide was described
in Wisden as the most unpleasant
ever played. During the first Australian innings Captain
Bill Woodfull (below right) 
was struck a powerful blow above the heart by Larwood.
The very next ball Jardine moved his fieldsman into the
Bodyline positions. The crowd was incensed. Later that
day Woodfull uttered his famous words
"There are two sides out there. One is trying to
play cricket, the other is not. The game is too good to
be spoilt. It is time some people got out of it".
On the third day Australian batsman Oldfield was struck
in the head and sustained a fractured skull. Once again
the crowds went crazy and Jardine and Larwood were their
main targets. Later that day the Australian Board of
Cricket sent a telegram to England protesting about
the use of Bodyline tactics.
The telegram read:
| Bodyline
assuming such proportions as to menace the best
interests of the game, making protection of the
body by the batsmen the main consideration. This
is causing intensely bitter feeling between the
players as well as injury. In our opinion it is
unsportsmanlike. Unless stopped at once it is
likely to upset the friendly relations between
England and Australia. |
The
Complete Illustrated History of Australian Cricket
says
that "Parliamentarians and diplomats in Canberra
and Whitehall joined in the controversy as the Test
was played out. There were brawls in Australian hotels
between supporters and critics of Bodyline, and while
Fleet Street newspapers labelled Australians as squealers,
Australian newspapers suggested somebody would be
killed if Bodyline was not quickly outlawed".
This
prompted high level diplomatic meetings between Australia
and England and it appeared that relations between the
two countries would become strained. Eventually diplomacy
prevailed. England went on to win back The Ashes meaning
that Bodyline had served it's purpose. Bradman had the
highest Australian batting average for the series of
56.57 but compare this to his Sheffield Shield average
for the same period of 150 and it is apparent that Bodyline
had a marked effect.
Eventually Bodyline was
outlawed and there are still rules in force today to
prevent it's return.
