calling all cricket fans why was 'the bodyline series' so called? all I know was Don Bradman played in it

Answer 1

It was the name given by the Australian press to the technique used by three of the English bowlers in the 1932-33 cricket series. The English cricketers' term was 'fast leg theory'.

The practice was to aim the ball at the body of the batter, in the hope of it being deflected off the batter's leg side, towards a circle of close fielders on that side.

The 'bodyline' bowlers were Harold Larwood, Bill Voce and Bill Bowes.
You're absolutely right about Don Bradman. He actually played quite well against the bodyline balls, having adapted his stance by moving away from the leg-side and batting into the unfielded off-side field.

As a result of bad feelings which escalated during the match, the MCC changed the Laws of Cricket to give umpires new powers and responsibilities to stop bowlers aiming at a batsman *if they were doing so with the intent of injuring them*.

Answer 2

The English bowlers and Harold Larwood in particular, bowled at the body of the Australian batsmen. He was FAST and accurate. He broke a few ribs and almost destroyed the loyalty of the Colonials. It was considered cheating in some quarters. Think of Joel Garner and the Windy bowlers in the 70's with their unplayable bouncers and you have an idea. Also the Australian pacemen of the 70's adopted similar really fast and accurate bowling tactics. The law was changed to stop bodyline and the law was changed to stop 6 bouncers per over. History repeats,Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman. A Bodyline bowler deliberately aimed the cricket ball at the body of the opposing batsman, in the hope of creating legside deflections that could be caught by one of several fielders in the quadrant of the field behind square leg.

Although several batsmen were hit during the series, as would be expected, no one was hit while a leg-theory field was set, but still it led to ill feeling between the two national teams, with the controversy eventually spilling into the diplomatic arena. Over the next two decades, several of the Laws of Cricket were changed to prevent this tactic being repeated. It should be noted, however, that short pitched balls aimed at the batsmen are not and have never been illegal and are in widespread use today as a tactic.

Answer 3

with the english going on tour down under after loosing the previous series to australia 2-1.. don bradman was the best batsman who ever lived so the english captain douglas jardin came up with the leg theory, later known as bodyline. this was where a prodomanently leg side field would be set and the bowler would bowl short pitched balls on middle and leg stump hoping for a batsman in defending himself, remember no bodypads or helmets in those days, to tickle a ball to leg slip, leg gully, etc. the outcome of this was that the ball was speared into the batsmans ribs... bradman overcame this tactic by just moving his guard towards leg thus giving himself room to play the ball thro the off-side...
interestingly the australian batsmen who were injured during this series were injured when a leg theory field was not set...

it worked as england regained the ashes 4-1

an interesting quote is this one which is a cable sent from the australian cricket board to the mcc

"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"

Another cricketing hoo-ha is the underarm bowling fiasco in a one-day game in 1982 between new zealand and australia in which with new zealand needing 6 off the last ball to tie the match greg chappell bowled the final ball underarm to give the new zealander no.10 no chance of hitting a six.. this sparked off a diplomatic war of words between the 2 nations and to this day still infuriates the kiwi supporter

just found a great quote the underarm bowling incident from the then new zealand prime minister

It was described as "the most disgusting incident I can recall in the history of cricket" by the then Prime Minister of New Zealand, Rob Muldoon, who also observed that "It was an act of cowardice and I consider it appropriate that the Australian team were wearing yellow"

Answer 4

England couldn't get Bradman out. So England came up with bodyline Jarrie Larawood was the bowler.
It ended his cricketing career after
And by the next serise bodyline was banned

Answer 5

The England captain Douglas Jardine ordered Harold Larwood to bowl on 'a line to the body' to try and thwart Bradmans run making. The balls were short pitched and a mainly leg-side field was used. Jardine called it 'leg theory' and thought it was a fair tactic.

Answer 6

The english basically gotted peed off with bradman as he kept making centuries. So they constantly bowled bouncers at the australian side with lots of fielders around the bat. There was lots of controversy because the australians thought it was against the spirit.

Answer 7

Because of the intimidating tactics used to bowl batsmen out. Bowlers would bowl at the body of the batsmen hence "body line".

Answer 8

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Answer 9

Isn't it because they just bowled the ball at the Aussie batsmen rather than the stumps?? Think thats why.

Answer 10

I REMEMBER WATCHIN A FILM WHEN IWAS YOUNGER IT WAS CALLED BODYLINE BECAUSE THE BOWLERS WERE AIMIN FOR THE BODY NO VERY SPORTING BUT I THINK THATS THE CORRECT ANSWER