Bodyline

Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a controversial tactic of bowling in cricket, devised by the English cricket team to counter the batting skills of Australian batsman Don Bradman during the 1932—33 Ashes series, played in Australia.

Quotes

• England must develop a new type of bowler and fresh ideas and strange tactics to curb his almost uncanny skill.

• Pelham "Plum" Warner, writing after Bradman scored 334 against England at Leeds in 1930.

• You fellas have no idea what sort of summer this is going to be.

• Bradman's warnings to his teammates after facing bodyline tactics during an early tour match in Perth.

• Well, I'll be fooked.

• Bill Bowes, after bowling Bradman first ball in the second Test.

• Well bowled, Harold!

• Douglas Jardine to Harold Larwood, after a short ball by the latter hit Woodfull over his heart the during third Test, played at Adelaide.

• It was the most unsportsmanlike act ever witnessed on an Australian cricket field.

• Australian selector Bill Johnson on Jardine's decision to set a bodyline field shortly after Woodfull's injury.

• I don't want to see you Mr. Warner. There are two teams out there; one is trying to play cricket and the other is not. The matter is in your hands, Mr. Warner, and I have nothing further to say to you. Good afternoon.

• Bill Woodfull to Pelham Warner, during the Adelaide Test. The latter had come to the Australian dressing room to check if Woodfull was well after his injury. It was later reported that he added, "The game is too good to be spoilt. It's time some people got out of it."

• If legislation is responsible for the eradication of leg theory, cricket will have become an invalid and will be likened to a man with one leg, able to satisfy up to a point, but unable to attain the supreme heights of action and definitely unable to satisfy the cricket soul.

• Archie Jackson in his newspaper column.

• Body-line was not an incident, it was not an accident, it was not a temporary aberration. It was the violence and ferocity of our age expressing itself in cricket.

• C. L. R. James in Beyond a Boundary (1966).