From the archives: the Bodyline series

How the fiercest, most fascinating Ashes series unfolded

July 4, 1932 Douglas Jardine named MCC captain for tour to Australia.

Sept 17 The squad departs on the Orontes for a 31-day trip to Australia, stopping in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to pick up the Nawab of Pataudi.

Oct 18 Orontes docks in Western Australia. Jardine starts to get up the noses of the Australian media the next day. When asked to name his first team, he says: “We didn’t come here to provide scoops for yours or any other bally paper.”

Oct 25 The crowd are riled when Bill Voce hits Bill Drew, of Western Australia, on shoulder in tour match.

Nov 4-8 The protagonists hit form. Against South Australia in Adelaide, MCC declare on 634 for nine, with hundreds for Herbert Sutcliffe, Maurice Leyland and Jardine, and win by an innings. In Sydney, Don Bradman makes 200 in half a day for New South Wales against Victoria.

Nov 19 First signs of what becomes known as “bodyline” as Harold Larwood strikes Bill Woodfull, captain of an Australian XI, around the heart in front of baying crowd in Melbourne. Oddly, Jardine misses the match for a fishing trip. Bradman makes 36 and 13.

Dec 1 Bradman ruled out of first Test, officially with flu, but he had also argued with board over his media commitments.

Dec 2 First Test starts in Sydney. Larwood almost removes Woodfull’s head with sixth ball of match. Australia slip to 87 for four but Stan McCabe makes 187 to help revival. First use of the word “bodyline” appears in print when Hugh Buggy files copy to Melbourne Herald as “bodyline bowling”, altered by a subeditor to one word. It caught on.

Dec 3-7 England are 252 for one at close. After a rest day, they advance to 524, with hundreds for Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond and, on his Test debut, Pataudi. England need one ball on the fifth morning to secure ten-wicket win. Larwood has match figures of ten for 124.

Dec 30 Second Test begins in Melbourne, with Bradman playing. England choose all-pace attack and Bill Bowes dismisses Bradman first ball with “shocking long hop”, his only wicket of series.

Jan 2, 1933 After England are dismissed for 169, a deficit of 59, Bradman makes 103 not out to put Australia in a strong position in front of world-record crowd of 68,188. They win by 111 runs the next day.

Jan 13 Pataudi, an opponent of bodyline, is dropped for the third Test in Adelaide, despite his hundred in the first. England are 30 for four but recover to make 341.

Jan 14 Woodfull is struck over the heart by ball from Larwood, sparking outrage among spectators. Jardine calls out “well bowled, Harold” and introduces more fielders on the leg side. At close of play, Woodfull tells Pelham Warner, the MCC manager, that “there are two sides out there; one is trying to play cricket, the other is not”.

Jan 16 After a rest day, Australia resume and Bert Oldfield edges bouncer from Larwood, bowling to conventional field, into his head. He collapses and police encircle ground to prevent pitch invasion by fans. Jardine pelted with orange peel while fielding on boundary.

Jan 18 Bradman makes brisk 66, dismissed trying to hit second consecutive six, but Australia trail by 411. That evening, Australia board sends telegram to MCC referring to bodyline as “menace to game” and “unsportsmanlike”.

Jan 19 England win by 338 runs. MCC committee meets in London to discuss telegram.

Jan 23 MCC replies in strong terms. “We deplore your cable,” its telegram begins, going on to dispute any question of unsportsmanlike conduct and suggests that tour be cancelled. Australian board replies to say that is not necessary and fortnight later retracts its “unsportsmanlike” claims.

Feb 10-14 Fourth Test begins in Brisbane in sweltering heat. Bradman makes 76 as Australia make 340. England collapse from 114 without loss to 225 for seven. Eddie Paynter, who has tonsillitis, checks himself out of hospital to dash to ground by taxi and makes a vital 83.

Feb 16 After aggressive bowling skittles Australia for 175, England win Test by six wickets – Paynter hitting a six to do so – and the Ashes. News overshadowed by death from tuberculosis of Archie Jackson, 23, regarded as one of Australia’s finest batsmen.

Feb 23-28 England drop 12 catches but win final Test in Sydney by eight wickets. Larwood supplements his 33 wickets in series with career-best Test innings of 98 in what proved to be his final Test. Bradman makes 48 and 71 to end series with average of 56.57, second to Paynter.

March 1 Larwood returns home with injured foot.

March 16 Rest of squad heads for New Zealand, where Hammond makes 227 and world record 336 not out in two Tests. England return home via Fiji, Hawaii and Canada, arriving back on May 6.

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