Bodyline In Australian Sport

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Bodyline was and arguably still is one of the most controversial moments in the history of Australian Sport. The English Cricket Team devised unethical tactics, very unlike the title the game had been given; ‘’The Gentleman’s’ Game.’’ Instead these strategies led to social, political and economic strain between the two countries. The 1932-1933 series was a test match between Australia and England. The batting skill of Australia’s Don Bradman had gotten out of control to the point where it was near impossible to stop him, this is where the English Cricket Team, led by Douglas Jardine, led the charge on the ‘’Fast Leg Theory’’, also known as bodyline. The tactic was as simple as the expected outcome; to stop Donald Bradman. The Bodyline Tactic…show more content…
The Media made it known throughout the country the events of the game on the field and in the dressing rooms. The events were spread through the media – mainly by radio and the paper. According to the English The Times Jardine and his tactics were widely supported in England; “The controversy of leg theory has aroused a keen feeling in England.” The English saw it as fair play and the hostility and treatment the English players – in particular Larwood and Jardine received, was also deemed as unsportsmanlike behaviour in their eyes, it was classified as “Squealing in the face of defeat”, which of course only worsened things, although England were quite aware of what Australia was going through and how it was a negative thing, a good example of this is from Douglas Jardine’s coach “We may well win the Ashes, but we may very well lose a…show more content…
Strains were already in place with the depression, and this didn’t help. The game had begun to turn into politics – it was no longer a game for the motherland and the colony, but a fierce rivalry began to boil. The world was already in a crisis with World War II potentially a threat of breaking out – and Australia needed to keep secured to the motherland. The controversy of course did not stay on the field for some Australians, with the government taking part. The Government had a big role to play to keep things economically under control – with the tension between the two countries the politics came into play to ensure economically all was well, this was the job of J.H Thomas; the British Minister for
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