Bodyline Series

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Lore & Background

The tactic involved bowling at pace, aimed at the batsman's body, with fielders placed nearby on the leg side to catch deflections. No helmets or upper-body protective gear were worn at the time. Critics considered it intimidating and physically threatening, and it caused a controversy that threatened diplomatic relations between Australia and England. Although no serious injuries arose from short-pitched deliveries with a leg theory field set, the tactic led to considerable ill feeling between the teams, particularly when Australian batsmen were struck.

In Their Own Story

Organised cricket has been played by women in Australia since no later than 1874 when the first recorded match took place in Bendigo. Competitions have existed at state level since the early-1900s and at national level since 1931–32. The Australian Women's Cricket Council (AWCC) was formed in March 1931 to administer and develop the game at the national level. The original members of the AWCC were Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. South Australia and Western Australia joined in 1934, while ACT and Tasmania affiliated in 1977 and 1982 respectively. England became the first international women's cricket team to visit Australia, touring in the summer of 1934–35 to compete in a series against an Australian team captained by Margaret Peden. Three Test matches—the first-ever involving women—were played during the series which received significant public and media interest. Men, in particular, were eager and curious to see the women play. The famous SCG barracker Yabba was quoted at the time: "The ladies are playing alright for me. This is cricket, this is… Leave the girls alone!" Following two losses, Australia eked out a draw in the third Test at the MCG with the spin bowling duo of Anne Palmer and Peggy Antonio proving to be among the team's standout performers. After raising their own funds to travel to the United Kingdom, the Australian women's team embarked on a maiden overseas voyage in 1937. They proceeded to play 16 tour matches across England including three Tests—the first resulting in a narrow win which saw leg spinner Peggy Antonio dominate with the ball again while Kath Smith played a crucial all-round role. With the series level at 1–1, the third Test was played at The Oval and attracted a crowd of over 6,000 people. The match ended in a draw. Soon after Australia's landmark tour, the momentum of the burgeoning women's game was halted by the events of World War II.

Reader's Guide

Bodyline bowling is intended to be intimidatory and was primarily designed to curb the scoring of Don Bradman, though other Australian batsmen such as Bill Woodfull, Bill Ponsford, and Alan Kippax were also targeted. The tactic involved bowling at the leg stump or just outside it, pitching the ball short so it reared up at the batsman's body. A ring of leg-side fielders would catch defensive deflections. Over time, several Laws of Cricket were changed to render bodyline less effective and increase player safety, including legside field restrictions, concussion breaks, and inspections.

Did You Know?

• The term 'bodyline' was first used in print by journalist Hugh Buggy in the Melbourne Herald, in his report on the first day's play of the first Test.
• Don Bradman scored 974 runs at an average of 139.14 during the 1930 Ashes series in England, an aggregate record that still stands.
• The story that Douglas Jardine shouted 'I've got it! He's yellow!' after seeing film footage of Bradman is apocryphal and not verified.
• Before the 1932–33 series, the English selectors included two leg-spinners, but the main tactic was fast leg theory, not a focus on Bradman's vulnerability to leg-spin.