Probably the most controversial moment in cricket history, the Bodyline controversy first cropped up during the tour match between the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and an Australian XI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Ironically, the mastermind of this infamous tactic, Douglas Jardine, was not present at the match since he had left for fishing in the Bogong Valley. BUT it was the events that occurred that day that formed the foundation for one of the more debated bowling strategies in cricket history.
The First Glimpses Of Bodyline Tactics
The match at the MCG saw Harold Larwood unleash an aggressive tactic which he would follow with several deliveries later to be termed as Bodyline. Short-pitched consistent deliveries hitting the batsman’s body meant Bill Woodfull was hit around the chest, and a game had to wait for 10 minutes. That was the start of the tension that was going to grow only further in the course of the series.
Don Bradman Vs Bodyline: The Epic Contest
Harold Larwood hurled a bodyline, but the only man lost in it was Australia’s greatest batsman ever — Don Bradman. He won fame with unbelievable batting skills. To counter the leg theory, which was a strategy to trap batsmen by short-pitched deliveries targeting their bodies, Bradman attempted.
In a quixotic gesture Bradman tried to counter this by running wildly around the crease in every odd manner. In one delivery, he executed what was termed as an overhead tennis smash to hit an all-run five off a delivery bowling towards his head. With such attempts at adjustment himself, the real Bradman was finally dismissed LBW as he shuffled across his crease-the moment that pointed towards the conclusive development of the Bodyline approach.
Response Of The Crowd: A Bemused Audience
50,000+ onlookers at the MCG watched in stunned bewilderment as the drama unfolded. The sight of Bradman fighting back, mixed with the unorthodox tactics and defensive field placements was exciting as well as complex. It was here that Bodyline tactics will go forever into cricketing history, as Harold Larwood earned his 1,000th first-class wicket later that day.
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