Cricinfo | Wisden Almanack
Bodyline. Possibly cricket's most famous series, almost certainly its most controversial, teetering from crisis to crisis and at one stage within hours of being called off as it reached governmental level. Douglas Jardine, England's captain, spoke openly of his dislike for Australians and his single-minded desire to regain the Ashes - and nullify Bradman - was fulfilled by reliance on the pace of Larwood and Bill Voce and a raft of class batsmen. Bradman missed the first Test after a dispute with the board and looked on as Stan McCabe made 187* in what experts rated as the best innings against Bodyline. Australia leveled the series at the MCG (Bradman's return was marked by a first-ball duck and a second-innings century) with Bill O'Reilly grabbing 10 for 129. The real trouble came at Adelaide where Woodfull was struck over the heart and Oldfield sustained a fractured skull. The capacity crowd, whose mood was enflamed by some blunt newspaper comment, came close to rioting and mounted police were on standby. Heated cables were exchanged between the ACB and MCC but in the end the tour went ahead and Jardine carried on. After the win at Adelaide, the Ashes were regained at Brisbane where Eddie Paynter rose off his hospital bed to score 86. Sadly, as England completed their win, Australia's sorrow was deepened as news filtered through that Jackson had died of TB aged 23. England wrapped-up their second successive 4-1 win in Australia at Sydney, Larwood making 98 as nightwatchman before limping out of the match, and of Test cricket. Few captains have been served so well and so loyally as Jardine was by Larwood (33 wickets at 19.51). In turn, few men have ever subsequently been treated so appallingly as Larwood was by the MCC.
Australia 1 England 4
Bodyline. Possibly cricket's most famous series, almost certainly its most controversial, teetering from crisis to crisis and at one stage within hours of being called off as it reached governmental level. Douglas Jardine, England's captain, spoke openly of his dislike for Australians and his single-minded desire to regain the Ashes - and nullify Bradman - was fulfilled by reliance on the pace of Larwood and Bill Voce and a raft of class batsmen. Bradman missed the first Test after a dispute with the board and looked on as Stan McCabe made 187* in what experts rated as the best innings against Bodyline. Australia leveled the series at the MCG (Bradman's return was marked by a first-ball duck and a second-innings century) with Bill O'Reilly grabbing 10 for 129. The real trouble came at Adelaide where Woodfull was struck over the heart and Oldfield sustained a fractured skull. The capacity crowd, whose mood was enflamed by some blunt newspaper comment, came close to rioting and mounted police were on standby. Heated cables were exchanged between the ACB and MCC but in the end the tour went ahead and Jardine carried on. After the win at Adelaide, the Ashes were regained at Brisbane where Eddie Paynter rose off his hospital bed to score 86. Sadly, as England completed their win, Australia's sorrow was deepened as news filtered through that Jackson had died of TB aged 23. England wrapped-up their second successive 4-1 win in Australia at Sydney, Larwood making 98 as nightwatchman before limping out of the match, and of Test cricket. Few captains have been served so well and so loyally as Jardine was by Larwood (33 wickets at 19.51). In turn, few men have ever subsequently been treated so appallingly as Larwood was by the MCC.
Australia 1 England 4