English cricket team

The English cricket team is a national cricket team representing England and Wales, although Wales is almost never mentioned in the team's name. It is administered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Bodyline

Main article: Bodyline

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Before the 1932-3 tour to Australia, England had become used to the prolific run-scoring of Don Bradman. The England captain, Surrey's Douglas Jardine chose to develop the already existing leg theory as a tactic to stop Bradman. Leg theory involved bowling fast balls directly at the batsman's body, and Jardine had two very fast accurate bowlers, Harold Larwood and Bill Voce to bowl them. The batsman would need to defend himself, and if he touched the ball with the bat, he could be caught by one of a large number of fielders placed on the leg side.

Related Topics:
1932 - 3 - Australia - Don Bradman - Surrey's - Douglas Jardine - Harold Larwood - Bill Voce

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

England won the series and the Ashes 4-1. But complaints about the Bodyline tactic caused crowd disruption on the tour, and threats of diplomatic action from the Australian Cricket Board, which during the tour sent the following cable to the Marylebone Cricket Club in London:

Related Topics:
The Ashes - Australian Cricket Board - Marylebone Cricket Club - London

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Bodyline bowling assumed such proportions as to menace best interests of game, making protection of body by batsmen the main consideration. Causing intensely bitter feeling between players as well as injury. In our opinion is unsportsmanlike. Unless stopped at once likely to upset friendly relations existing between Australia and England.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Later, Jardine was removed from the captaincy and the laws of cricket changed so that fast balls aimed at the body, and having more than two fielders behind square leg were banned.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~