The Ashes rivalry between Australia and England is one of the most storied in cricket history, originating in 1882 when Australia defeated England at The Oval. A satirical obituary published in The Sporting Times stated that English cricket had died, and “the body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia,” giving birth to the term “The Ashes.”
Over the decades, this rivalry intensified, with both nations fiercely competing for the prestigious urn. By the time the 1932/33 series approached, the Ashes had become a symbol of national pride for both Australia and England.
Leading up to the 1932/33 series, several key matches set the stage for the Bodyline series. The 1930 Ashes series, in particular, was pivotal, as it featured the extraordinary batting prowess of Australian cricketer Don Bradman.
Bradman scored a record 974 runs in the series, including a then-record 334 at Headingley. His dominance over the English bowlers created a sense of urgency within the English camp to devise a strategy to counteract his brilliance. The 1930 series underscored the need for innovative tactics, setting the groundwork for the controversial Bodyline approach.
Economic and Social Context
The Great Depression had a profound impact on both nations, influencing the 1932/33 Ashes series. In England, the economic downturn led to high unemployment and social unrest, while in Australia, the Depression caused widespread financial hardship and unemployment.
Cricket helped provide a welcome distraction from the harsh realities of daily life.
The financial pressures also influenced the tour, with both cricket boards seeking to maximize revenue from the series. This economic backdrop added an extra layer of intensity to the already fierce rivalry, as the series was not just a sporting contest but also a significant commercial venture.
What was Bodyline
Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was controversial, even at the time. It, however, was a legal tactic when the series was played, although many have disputed whether it was ‘in the spirit of the game’.
This strategy involved bowling fast deliveries aimed at the batsman’s body, specifically targeting the leg stump with a packed leg-side field. The goal was to intimidate batsmen and induce defensive shots that could result in catches by the strategically placed fielders. And even if the batsmen decided to attack, fielders were in place for those shots as well.
This approach contrasted with traditional fast bowling, which typically focused on pitching the ball to hit the stumps or induce edges to slips and the wicketkeeper. Bodyline was perceived as aggressive and dangerous, leading to significant controversy and criticism.
Douglas Jardine, the English captain, devised the Bodyline strategy primarily to counter the exceptional batting skills of Don Bradman.
Bradman had dominated the English bowlers during the 1930 Ashes series, and Jardine was determined to find a method to neutralize his threat. Jardine believed that traditional bowling tactics would not suffice against Bradman’s brilliance.
So he instructed his bowlers to aim short-pitched deliveries at the batsmen’s bodies with a leg-side field set to catch deflected shots. Jardine’s rationale was to disrupt Bradman’s concentration and force him into making mistakes.
Role of Harold Larwood
Harold Larwood, 1932 See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Harold Larwood was the key bowler in executing the Bodyline strategy. Known for his exceptional pace and accuracy, Larwood was the perfect choice to implement Jardine’s plan.
He bowled consistently at high speeds, targeting the batsmen’s ribs and legs. Larwood’s execution of Bodyline was instrumental in its effectiveness, as he managed to bowl with both precision and hostility, causing discomfort and fear among the Australian batsmen.
His impact on the series was profound; he took 33 wickets at an average of 19.51, becoming the leading wicket-taker and playing a crucial role in England’s series victory.
However, Larwood’s aggressive bowling also led to significant injuries among the Australian players, further fuelling the controversy surrounding Bodyline.
In this post, the first of two detailing the Bodyline Series, we will discuss the first two tests. Part Two will discuss the final three test of the series.
First Test, December 2-7, 1932, Sydney
The build-up to the series was intense, with England arriving in Australia with the explicit goal of reclaiming the Ashes. The English team, under the captaincy of Douglas Jardine, was prepared to implement the Bodyline tactics devised to counter the brilliance of Australian batsman Don Bradman.
However, the first Test in Sydney had a significant twist even before it began: Don Bradman, the central figure around whom much of the Bodyline strategy was constructed, did not play.
Bradman’s absence was due to a contractual dispute with the New South Wales Cricket Association, which left a considerable gap in the Australian batting lineup. This absence significantly altered the dynamics of the match, giving England a perceived advantage as they commenced their campaign.
Australia’s First Innings
Despite the absence of Bradman, Australia managed a respectable total in their first innings, thanks largely to a spectacular performance by Stan McCabe. Opening the innings, the Australian batsmen faced a formidable English bowling attack led by Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. The initial stages saw wickets falling regularly, with Vic Richardson contributing a solid 49 runs before being dismissed.
Stan McCabe, 1930 [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Stan McCabe, however, anchored the innings with a magnificent display of batting, scoring an unbeaten 187 runs. Together with Richardson, they took the score from 4/87 to 5/216, but after Richardson was dismissed, McCabe really took over.
Almost single handedly, he took the score from 216 to 360 with the remainder of the batsmen only scoring 31 between the five of them.
Larwood and Voce were the pick of the English bowlers, with Larwood taking 5 wickets for 96 runs and Voce claiming 4 wickets for 110 runs.
England’s First Innings
England’s response was formidable, reflecting their determination to dominate the series. They passed the Australian first innings score only two down, and continued to bat and bat. This was a death by 1000 cuts, as the English total of 524 took just two balls short of 230 overs to compile.
Herbert Sutcliffe, 1925 [1] scanned from cricket anthology, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Opener Herbert Sutcliffe top scored with 194 off 496 balls. His innings was a blend of technical proficiency and sheer endurance, setting a solid foundation for England. Contributions from Wally Hammond (112 off 242 balls) and Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi (102 off 380 balls) further strengthened England’s position, allowing them to post a commanding total.
One could say that at 2/423, England could and should have scored a lot more than 524, having lost their last 8 wickets for just 101 runs. Even so, a first innings lead of 164 would be extremely difficult to overcome.
Australia’s Second Innings
Behind by 164 runs, Australia could not afford to lose quick early wickets.
However, that is precisely what happened. Both of Australia’s openers, the two Bills (Woodfull and Ponsford), only made 0 and 2 respectively, and were in the dressing rooms with the score at 10 runs.
It didn’t really get much better, although there were brief signs of recovery. The third wicket partnership topped 51, but then two wickets fell on 61. Wickets continued to fall at an alarming rate, at 100, 104, 105 and 113, before Lisle Nagel and Tim Wall briefly stonewalled the collapse to at least force England to bat again.
Larwood’s exceptional bowling performance, taking 5/28, was instrumental in bundling Australia out for a meager 164 runs. This left England needing exactly one run to win, and naturally …
England’s Second Innings
… this wasn’t an issue. Herbert Sutcliffe scored the required single off the first ball of the innings. This comprehensive victory in the first Test set the tone for the series and highlighted the effectiveness of the Bodyline strategy, even if the man at whom the strategy was aimed wasn’t even playing.
Controversies and Key Moments
The Bodyline tactics, aimed at intimidating the batsmen with short-pitched deliveries directed at their bodies, drew criticism for being overly aggressive and dangerous. The Australian crowd and media were vocal in their disapproval, foreshadowing the storm of controversy that would engulf the series.
Despite the criticisms, the English team’s strategy proved effective, particularly in the second innings where Larwood’s hostile bowling dismantled the Australian lineup. The first Test showcased the tension and high stakes of the series, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance and resilience.
Second Test, December 30, 1932 – January 03, 1933, Melbourne
The second Test of the 1932/33 Ashes series was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from December 30, 1932, to January 3, 1933. The match was highly anticipated, not just because it was part of the controversial Bodyline series, but also due to the return of Don Bradman to the Australian lineup.
Bradman’s absence in the first Test had significantly impacted Australia, and his return was seen as a crucial boost for the home side. The tension surrounding the series, exacerbated by the Bodyline tactics used by England, added an extra layer of intensity to this encounter.
Australia’s First Innings
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Jack Fingleton provided the bulk of the early runs, with Bill Woodfull and Leo O’Brien both falling for 10 runs each.
This brought in Don Bradman, the reason for the Bodyline tactic, and people in the crowd wondered just how he would bat against such hostile and controversial batting.
Don Bradman, 1930 State Library of South Australia from Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Well, they would have to wait. Because Bradman was out first ball, bowled by Bill Bowes, a medium pacer, not an extreme fast bowler like Larwood.
With that anti-climax out of the way, Australia got down to the business of eking out some runs. Stan McCabe, the hero of the first innings of the first test, was dismissed for 32, while Jack Fingleton was next out for 83 off 227 balls of toil and struggle, only 3 of which hit the boundary.
Additional cameos from Vic Richardson (32) and Bert Oldfield (27 not out) helped Australia to a middling 228.
England’s bowlers, particularly Bill Voce, who took 3 wickets for 54 runs, maintained pressure throughout the innings.
England’s First Innings
England’s response was led by Herbert Sutcliffe, who top-scored with a painstaking 52 runs off 182 balls. However, the Australian bowlers, especially opener and aggressive leg-spinner Bill O’Reilly and fast bowler Tim Wall, were relentless. O’Reilly’s leg-spin proved to be highly effective, as he claimed 5/63, while Wall’s pace bowling yielded 4/52.
Other than Sutcliffe’s efforts, England’s batting was, like Australia’s, made up of a series of starts; 13 to Bob Wyatt, 15 to Iftikhar Ali Khan Patudi, 22 to Maurice Leyland, and 30 to Gubby Allen the only other scorers to make it into double figures.
England was bowled out for 169 runs, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 59 runs. This lead, though not substantial, provided Australia with a slight edge as they headed into their second innings.
Australia’s Second Innings
In their second innings, Australia’s batting performance was bolstered by a magnificent century from Don Bradman. Determined to make amends for his first-innings failure, Bradman scored 103 runs from 146 balls, showcasing his exceptional skill and mental fortitude. His innings was the cornerstone of Australia’s total of 191 runs.
Remarkably, this would be Bradman’s only century of the tour, which showed that, debates of whether the Bodyline tactics was against the spirit of the game aside, the tactic worked. The man who scored centuries at will, scored only one against Bodyline tactics, and averaged a far more mortal 56.57 for the series compared to his career average of 99.94.
Batting great Wally Hammond, a man renowned as one of England’s greatest batsmen ever (He averaged 58.45 from his 85 tests) showed he also had some skill with the ball, taking 3 for 21. (Side note: Wally Hammond also took 83 wickets at an average of 37.80 during his test career.)
Despite Bradman’s heroics, only Bill Woodfull (26), Vic Richardson (32) and Leo O’Brien (11) passed into double figures, and Australia’s score of 191 gave England a tricky but not impossible 251 run chase to win the Test.
England’s Second Innings
Chasing 251 runs for victory, England’s innings started well. Herbert Sutcliffe (33) and Maurice Leyland (19) took England beyond 50 before the first wicket fell at 53. Maurice Leyland followed his opener and was dismissed on the same score, and when Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi (5), Douglas Jardine (0), Les Ames (2) and Wally Hammond (23) were dismissed, England had fallen from 0/53 to 6/85, and the match was beyond them.
Bob Wyatt (25) and Gubby Allen (23) put together a 50 run 7th wicket partnership , but when Wyatt was dismissed with the score on 135, the end was near. Bert Ironmonger and Bill O’Reilly took the last three wickets to dismiss England for 139, for a victory by 111 runs.
Bill O’Reilly, 1930s [1] [2], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bill O’Reilly continued his outstanding form, taking 5/66 and giving him 10 for the match, while Bert Ironmonger’s spin bowling finished with 4/26.
Australia’s victory in the second Test levelled the series at 1-1, setting the stage for a gripping continuation of the series.
Controversies and Key Moments
The Bodyline tactics employed by England, particularly the hostile bowling aimed at Bradman, continued to stir debate and criticism. Bradman’s golden duck in the first innings and his subsequent century in the second innings were pivotal moments that highlighted his importance to the Australian side and the psychological warfare inherent in the series.
The Australian crowd’s reaction to Bodyline remained vehemently negative, and the media continued to condemn the tactics as unsporting and dangerous. Despite the controversies, the match showcased high-quality cricket and strategic battles, further intensifying the rivalry between the two teams.
The match highlighted the effectiveness and dangers of Bodyline, reinforcing its controversial place in cricket lore.
In the next post, we will look at the final three tests of this series that still resonates with cricket fans from both countries.