Bodyline bowling is “a menace to the game”
By Frank Morris
 English cricketers left nothing to chance when they came to Australia in 1932.
The blue-collar cricketers set out to recover the Ashes after suffering a humiliating defeat in the 1930 Test series in England.
Nothing but nothing was going to stand in their way – not even the magic bat of Don Bradman.
Bradman’s tremendous success during the 1930 tour had convinced the English selectors that new leadership was needed if the Ashes were to be brought back to England.
When the third test got under way in Adelaide in January, 1933, spectators didn’t realise that they were about to witness one of the most controversial sporting events of the century.
 Spearheaded by Douglas Jardine, the English introduced some of the fiercest tactics the laws of cricket would allow.
Their main strategy was the infamous ‘bodyline’ bowling – a constant delivery of short-pitched fast balls which aimed at the batman’s head and shoulders.
“The batsman was like a bear in a cage being pelted with stones by naughty children,” writes historian Nic Van Oudtshoorn.
The tactics were not only frightening and difficult for the batsmen, but caused injury. To play the ball meant the risk of being caught. Not to play it meant the greater risk of being hit.
The Australian Captain, Bill Woodfull, was felled by a fast ball near the heart. Bert Oldfield had his skull fractured.
Jardine’s terror tactics erupted in a public outcry. There was fighting and riots, and Australian dockworkers boycotted British ships.
“Bodyline bowling is a menace to the game…and unsportsmanlike,” protested Australian cricket official, Mr W. Jeanes.
(BODYLINE, the brilliant television mini-series of the men and the “war” which rocked the foundations of the Empire, made in 1984, is available at video stores and retail outlets.)
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Adapted by Frank Morris
Oldfield, Larwood: “We are best of friends”
London, April 23 (Courier-Mail Special Cables). Oldfield met and chatted with Larwood at the Trent Bridge (Nottinghamshire) ground. Larwood later said: “We are best of friends. I told Bert I was feeling fit again (referring to his toe)”
The Daily Mail says: “There was not the slightest embarrassment. The discussed for an hour everything except bodyline and the Test prospects.”
Oldfield was struck on the head by a ball from Larwood in the third Test at Adelaide, and this, combined with an earlier incident, when Woodfull was struck over the heart, caused the memorable demonstration.
Oldfield later exonerated Larwood from all blame. Oldfield visited Nottingham to buy cricket gear for his shop.
According to the Daily Sketch, Oldfield selected 400 bats for shipment to Australia.
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Adapted by Frank Morris
Grimmet hope of team; “Bodyline is dead,” says Cardus.
“Jardine’s retirement is a great loss,” says Neville Cardus. “Australians know my attitude on bodyline – I do not regret one word I have written or said on that subject.
“I oppose bodyline for two reasons.
 “Firstly, because it will not go down with the public, who do not want to watch an attack directed at the batsman’s body. Australian crowds are not singular in this respect – the Oval, Old Trafford, and other crowds similarly would resent bodyline.
“Secondly, is that bodyline spoils the beauty of cricket as a spectacle; it is an ugly form of attack. Some pessimists said that bodyline will kill cricket, but cricket, real cricket, has killed bodyline.
“Nevertheless, this does not affect my admiration for Jardine’s cricketing qualities. He was a great skipper before bodyline was known, and he will remain a great skipper when bodyline has been forgotten.
“It is tragic that a captain of Maclaren’s and Jackson’s class should drop out, for Jardine is a captain worthy of the Australians.
“I disagreed with his tactics, but if his retirement was due to those tactics then it merely adds another damning line in bodyline’s epitaph.
“I believe Wyatt will succeed Jardine as captain. Valentine is still too young, but Wyatt is Woodfull’s English counterpart. Perhaps both lack genius and inspiration, but they know cricket on and off the field.
“Woodfull’s personality and character have done much to dissolve bitterness, and I believe that the fact that he opposed bodyline greatly influenced the MCC attitude towards it,” said Cardus.
Apart from the obvious choices amongst the players who visited Australia and India, Mr Cardus believes that J. Iddon (Lancashire) may force his way into the Tests.
Cardus declared that the more he studies the Australian team the more he respects its ability.
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