Editing Bodyline (section)

==Genesis==
===Leg theory bowling===
In the 19th century, most cricketers considered it unsportsmanlike to bowl the ball at the leg stump or for batsmen to hit on the leg side. But by the early years of the 20th century, some bowlers, usually [[Spin bowling|slow]] or [[Fast bowling|medium-paced]], used [[leg theory]] as a tactic; the ball was aimed outside the line of leg stump and the fielders placed on that side of the field, the object being to test the batsman's patience and force a rash stroke.<ref name=F22-23/> Two English left-arm bowlers, [[George Hirst]] in 1903–04 and [[Frank Foster (cricketer)|Frank Foster]] in 1911–12, bowled leg theory to packed leg side fields in Test matches in Australia;<ref name="Frith, pp. 18–19">Frith, pp. 18–19.</ref> [[Warwick Armstrong]] also used it regularly for Australia.<ref>Frith, p. 25.</ref> In the years immediately before the First World War, several bowlers used leg theory in English [[county cricket]].<ref name=F22-23>Frith, pp. 22–23.</ref> Amongst these was the South African [[Basil Melle]], who utilised leg theory bowling playing for [[Oxford University Cricket Club|Oxford University]] during the 1913 season, in which he took 55 wickets and in [[The University Match (cricket)|The University Match]] dominated the [[Cambridge University Cricket Club|Cambridge University]] batsmen.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J6NsDwAAQBAJ|title=Cricket and society in South Africa, 1910-1971: from union to isolation|publisher=[[Springer International Publishing]]|location=[[London]]|first1=Bruce|last1=Murray|first2=Jonty|last2=Winch|first3=Richard|last3=Parry|year=2018|page=143|isbn=9783319936086|oclc=1050448400|language=en}}</ref>

When cricket resumed after the war, few bowlers maintained the tactic, which was unpopular with spectators owing to its negativity. [[Fred Root]], the [[Worcestershire County Cricket Club|Worcestershire]] bowler, used it regularly and with considerable success in county cricket. Root later defended the use of leg theory—and bodyline—observing that when bowlers bowled outside off stump, the batsmen always had the option to let the ball pass them without playing a shot, so they could scarcely complain.<ref>Frith, p. 23.</ref>

Some fast bowlers experimented with leg theory prior to 1932, sometimes accompanying the tactic with [[Bouncer (cricket)|short-pitched bowling]]. In 1925, Australian [[John Scott (Australian cricketer, born 1888)|Jack Scott]] first bowled a form of what would later have been called bodyline in a state match for New South Wales; his captain [[Herbie Collins]] disliked it and would not let him use it again. Other Australian captains were less particular, including [[Vic Richardson]], who asked the South Australian bowler [[Lance Gun]] to use it in 1925,<ref name=F27-29>Frith, pp. 27–29.</ref> and later let Scott use it when he moved to South Australia. Scott repeated the tactics against the MCC in 1928–29.<ref>Douglas, pp. 79–80.</ref><ref name=Fr29>Frith, pp. 28–29.</ref> In [[1927 English cricket season|1927]], in a Test trial match, [[Edward Clark (cricketer)|"Nobby" Clark]] bowled short to a leg-trap (a cluster of fielders placed close on the leg side). He was representing England in a side captained by [[Douglas Jardine]].<ref>Douglas, pp. 59–60.</ref> In 1928–29, [[Harry Alexander (cricketer)|Harry Alexander]] bowled fast leg theory at an England team,<ref>Douglas, p. 83.</ref> and [[Harold Larwood]] briefly used a similar tactic on that same tour in two Test matches.<ref name=Fr29/> [[Freddie Calthorpe]], the England captain, criticised [[Learie Constantine]]'s use of short-pitched bowling to a leg side field in a Test match in 1930;<ref>Howat (1976), p. 60.</ref> one such ball struck [[Andy Sandham]], but Constantine only reverted to more conventional tactics after a complaint from the England team.<ref>Frith, pp. 31–32.</ref>

===Donald Bradman===
[[File:Don Bradman 1930.jpg|thumb|Don Bradman in 1930]]
The [[Australian cricket team]] toured England in 1930. Australia won the five-[[Test cricket|Test]] series 2–1,<ref name="auslist">{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/guru?sdb=team;team=AUS;class=testteam;filter=basic;opposition=0;notopposition=0;decade=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1877-03-15;start=1877-03-15;enddefault=2007-11-20;end=2007-11-20;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captainid=0;recent=;viewtype=resultlist;runslow=;runshigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;ballslow=;ballshigh=;overslow=;overshigh=;bpo=0;batevent=;conclow=;conchigh=;takenlow=;takenhigh=;ballsbowledlow=;ballsbowledhigh=;oversbowledlow=;oversbowledhigh=;bpobowled=0;bowlevent=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |title=Statsguru—Australia—Tests—Results list |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |access-date=21 December 2007}}</ref> and [[Donald Bradman]] scored 974 [[run (cricket)|runs]] at a [[batting average (cricket)|batting average]] of 139.14, an aggregate record that still stands to this day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Records: Test matches: Batting records: Most runs in a series|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/282849.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="p133">Perry, p. 133.</ref> By the time of the next Ashes series of 1932–33, Bradman's average hovered around 100, approximately twice that of all other world-class batsmen.<ref name=brad>Cashman, pp. 32–35.</ref><ref name=pi130>Piesse, p. 130.</ref> The English cricket authorities felt that specific tactics would be required to curtail Bradman from being even more successful on his own Australian pitches;<ref>Frith, pp. 39–41.</ref> some believed that Bradman was at his most vulnerable against [[Leg spin|leg-spin]] bowling as [[Walter Robins]] and [[Ian Peebles]] had supposedly caused him problems; consequently two leg-spinners were included in the English touring party of 1932–33.<ref>Douglas, p. 121.</ref>

Gradually, the idea developed that Bradman was possibly vulnerable to pace bowling. In the final Test of the 1930 Ashes series, while he was batting, the pitch became briefly difficult following rain. Bradman was observed to be uncomfortable facing deliveries which bounced higher than usual at a faster pace, being seen to consistently step back out of the line of the ball. Former England player and [[Surrey CCC|Surrey]] captain [[Percy Fender]] was one who noticed this, and the incident was much discussed by cricketers. Given that Bradman scored 232, it was not initially thought that a way to curb his prodigious scoring had been found.<ref>Frith, pp. 42–43.</ref><ref name=Do111>Douglas, p. 111.</ref> When Douglas Jardine later saw film footage of the Oval incident and noticed Bradman's discomfort, according to his daughter he shouted, "I've got it! He's yellow!"<ref>Frith, p. 50</ref> The theory of Bradman's vulnerability developed further when Fender received correspondence from Australia in 1932, describing how Australian batsmen were increasingly moving across the stumps towards the off side to play the ball on the on side. Fender showed these letters to his Surrey team-mate Jardine when it became clear that Jardine was to captain the English team in Australia during the 1932–33 tour, and he also discussed Bradman's discomfort at the Oval.<ref name=Do111/> It was also known in England that Bradman was dismissed for a four-ball [[Duck (cricket)|duck]] by fast bowler [[Eddie Gilbert (cricketer)|Eddie Gilbert]], and had looked very uncomfortable. Bradman had also appeared uncomfortable against the pace of [[Sandy Bell]] in his innings of 299 not out at the [[Adelaide Oval]] in [[South African cricket team in Australia in 1931–32|South Africa's tour of Australia]] earlier in 1932, when the desperate bowler decided to bowl short to him, and fellow South African [[Herbie Taylor]], according to [[Jack Fingleton]], may have mentioned this to English cricketers in 1932.<ref>Frith, pp. 39–40; p. 48</ref> Fender felt Bradman might be vulnerable to fast, short-pitched deliveries on the line of leg stump.<ref name="p135">Perry, p. 135.</ref><ref name="p244">Pollard, p. 244.</ref> Jardine felt that Bradman was nervous about standing his ground against intimidatory bowling, citing instances in 1930 when he shuffled about, contrary to orthodox batting technique.<ref name=pi130/><ref name=h70>Haigh and Frith, p. 70.</ref>

===Douglas Jardine===
[[File:Douglas Jardine Cigarette Card.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Douglas Jardine]] was England's captain during the 1932–33 series.| alt=A head shot of a man.]]
Jardine's first experience against Australia came when he scored an unbeaten 96 to secure a draw against the [[Australian cricket team in England in 1921|1921 Australian touring side]] for [[Oxford University Cricket Club|Oxford University]]. The tourists were criticised in the press for not allowing Jardine to reach his hundred,<ref name=fingo81>Fingleton (1981), pp. 81–82.</ref> but had tried to help him with some easy bowling. There has been speculation that this incident helped develop Jardine's antipathy towards Australians, although Jardine's biographer Christopher Douglas denies this.<ref>Douglas, pp. 30–31.</ref> Jardine's attitude towards Australia hardened after [[English cricket team in Australia in 1928-29|he toured the country in 1928–29]].<ref>Douglas, p. 64.</ref> When he scored three consecutive hundreds in the early games, he was frequently jeered by the crowd for slow play; the Australian spectators took an increasing dislike to him, mainly for his superior attitude and bearing, his awkward fielding, and particularly his choice of headwear—a Harlequin cap that was given to successful Oxford cricketers.<ref name=F71/> Although Jardine may simply have worn the cap out of superstition, it conveyed a negative impression to the spectators; his general demeanour drew one comment of "Where's the butler to carry the bat for you?"<ref>Fingleton (1981), pp. 84–85.</ref> By this stage Jardine had developed an intense dislike for Australian crowds. During his third century at the start of the tour, during a period of abuse from the spectators, he observed to [[Hunter Hendry]] that "All Australians are uneducated, and an unruly mob".<ref name=F71>Frith, p. 71.</ref> After the innings, when teammate [[Patsy Hendren]] remarked that the Australian crowds did not like Jardine, he replied "It's fucking mutual".<ref name=F71/><ref>Douglas, p. 68.</ref> During the tour, Jardine fielded next to the crowd on the boundary. There, he was roundly abused and mocked for his awkward fielding, particularly when chasing the ball.<ref>Douglas, p. 82.</ref> On one occasion, he spat towards the crowd while fielding on the boundary as he changed position for the final time.<ref name=F71/>

Jardine was appointed captain of England for the 1931 season, replacing [[Percy Chapman]] who had led the team in 1930. He defeated [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]] in his first series, but opinion was divided as to how effective he had been.<ref>Douglas, pp. 93–95.</ref> The following season, he led England again and was appointed to lead the team to tour Australia for the 1932–33 Ashes series.<ref>Douglas, pp. 107–08.</ref> A meeting was arranged between Jardine, [[Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club|Nottinghamshire]] captain [[Arthur Carr (cricketer)|Arthur Carr]] and his two [[fast bowling|fast bowler]]s [[Harold Larwood]] and [[Bill Voce]] at London's [[Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel|Piccadilly Hotel]] to discuss a plan to combat Bradman.<ref name="p134">Perry, p. 134.</ref> Jardine asked Larwood and Voce if they could bowl on leg stump and make the ball rise into the body of the batsman. The bowlers agreed they could, and that it might prove effective.<ref name="p135"/><ref>Frith, pp. 43–44.</ref><ref name="p242">Pollard, p. 242.</ref> Jardine also visited Frank Foster to discuss his field-placing in Australia in 1911–12.<ref name="Frith, pp. 18–19"/>

Larwood and Voce practised the plan over the remainder of the [[1932 English cricket season|1932 season]] with varying but increasing success and several injuries to batsmen.<ref>Frith, pp. 45–48.</ref><ref>Douglas, pp. 113–117.</ref> [[Ken Farnes]] experimented with short-pitched, leg-theory bowling but was not selected for the tour. [[Bill Bowes]] also used short-pitched bowling, notably against [[Jack Hobbs]].<ref>Frith, pp. 49–50.</ref>