Bodyline

From ArticleWorld

Bodyline is a colloquial term ascribed to a bowling technique in the sport of cricket. The bodyline bowl is aimed directly at a batsman’s body, a place that is typically very hard to defend due to the proximity and angle. The uncomfortable angle was supposed to unease batters sufficiently to relinquish their wicket with comparative ease.

Origins

The phrase bodyline was established during the controversial Ashes series of 1932/33 between in England and Australia staged by the latter. Australian Journalist Hugh Buggy coined the phrase Bodyline in a 1932 edition of The Sun. The official England stance that the bodyline tactic was merely as fast leg theory, with leg theory being a popularly used and legal method of bowling. The tactic was primarily devised to stop the prolific Australian batsman Don Bradman, who had destroyed England in the previous series. It was invented by England captain Douglas Jardine along with Nottinghamshire captain Arthur Carr and fast bowlers, Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. The theory behind it being that with a clutch of fielders on the off-side the flailing batsman is more likely to nick the ball, setting up an easy catch for the fielders.

Controversy

The tactic caused huge controversy and outrage from the Australians, who considered the tactic ‘unsportsmanlike’ and demanded that it be stopped. The Australians sustained numerous serious injuries from the crunching blows handed out by English fast bowlers. Injuries were felt throughout the batting order with numerous bumps and bruises, wicket keeper Bert Oldfield also received a fractured skull (although this was not actually received from a bodyline delivery and was in fact the result of a top edge deflection). Officials and fans were stunned and immediately petitioned the Marylebone Cricket Club (The MCC) for players to cease this tactic, but it fell on deaf ears with many officials still believing the line that players were merely operating a fast leg theory. Tensions escalated as England officials demanded an apology for being branded unsportsmanlike. The row spilled over into the political fray with the two nations divided and the fears of boycotts of products. This would later be smoothed out by Australian Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, who demanded that Australian Cricket Board apologise due to the severe financial repercussions of severing alliances with England. England would go on to win the series 4 – 1

Repercussions

Over the next few years the International cricket board imposed rules that would prevent the use of the bodyline tactic. These laws included fielding and bowling restrictions that would render the use of bodyline obsolete. The ‘bodyline tour’ remains a very heated topic and is considered to be one of the most important moments in the history of the sport.