Bodyline 1984

[Music] it's a time that's gone now fading from our memory but what a time it was a time of empire a time that saw three million englishmen tumble out of their cottages and tenements their barracks and palaces to colonize the world not before or since has any country embraced a craze the way the british embraced their empire believing above all that god was an englishman they took their language their democracy their law to the very end of the earth and in the service of such an empire there emerged men who would become legends dr livingston on the shores of lake tanganyika general gordon martin's cartoon baden powell besieged at math king on and on they went deeds of valor and glory beyond mere imagination and together they helped to build the largest empire the world has ever seen an empire in which 40 million englishmen held sway over almost one third of the world's population an empire which at its height boasted more than four dominions eight protectorates 40 possessions and in the words of the colonial office nearly all the isolated rocks and islands of all the oceans of the world was it any wonder that cecil rhodes could write to be born british is to win first prize in the lottery of life even so in the final account every empire is built on force every empire depends on conquest every empire is retained only by unwavering will this is a story of that empire a story of unwavering will the story of three men harold larwood english the son of a coal miner born into poverty in nunca gate nottinghamshire donald george bradman born and raised in the australian bush the man who became a hero to his nation and douglas jardine a child of the british raj born in india educated in england surrounded all his life by affluence and power as only the empire could conspire to do these men came together in january 1933 in the small australian city of adelaide that town of churches there to do battle they faced each other down 22 yards of carefully tendered turf to play cricket the hallowed game of empire but suffer no illusion in the guise of a game this was as bitter as any war [Music] it was to consume honor tradition and friendship it was about a young nation australian emerging at last from beneath england's shadow it was about the empire breaking apart to this day douglas jardine remains the most hated man ever to set foot in australia they said he was dangerous ruthless a man obsessed in time his own country would reject him but the private man was far removed from the public image he could be charming loyal affectionate he knew fear and he conquered it he was a man who wanted to write his will across the sky and stars i know because i loved him to understand you have to go back to that shining jewel of empire to india to his childhood the year is 1909 the place bombay the occasion a garla ball celebrating young douglas's birthday but contrary to appearances this is anything but a happy occasion for within days nine-year-old douglas jardine is going to leave home forever the honorable sir weaver's vandal rogers registrar general rajasthan [Music] i got your mongoose but mama said gentlemen don't keep them it's a boring old calling box a sad time for you else yes and how are you bearing up no not too badly in public anyway why don't you and rachel run along rachel might like to see your presence i've had nine years to prepare for this i don't believe any mother worthy of the name can prepare for it perhaps not but malcolm says that only english schools produce english gentlemen of course and only english schools produce a modern scholar his excellency the lord house not at all not at all how good have you become i'm sure it will be a pleasure as always now where's the guest of honor may i present my son douglas douglas i'd like you to meet lord harris the finest governor bombay's ever had and what's that you're wearing it's my father's shirt it's a halloween cap you wear it when you play cricket how do you know and do you know what it means it means that that you've played qriket for oxford sir yes yes that's quite right but it means more than that it means that you're a member of the most honored class in england it means that you're a leading player in the empire's greatest game did you have one sir were you a cricketer i've played the odd social game lord harris's teasing davis not only did he captain england he introduced qriket into india well one had to civilize the place somehow do you want a harlequin cap for yourself one day yes sir that's the spirit there now happy birthday don't stand on ceremony go ahead and open it wrong open it [Music] sir ready ready what if i told you about the late cut keep the ball down and roll the wrists what was that that my darling was a four i think it's time for stumps off to bed good night my darling good night that's one of the reasons why we chose it wasn't it most of the fellows there will play the game and a new chap can win their respect and friendship by his ability with the bat we know that and by the way he plays the game now once more what did i tell you about late cat roll your wrists and keep the ball down good boy remember what [Music] everything [Music] [Music] and so like thousands of boys before him the sons of those who helped to build the empire douglas found himself alone in an alien world horus hill like most english public schools believed that a gentleman's education was built not only on scholarship but on discipline this is douglas jardine he's from india your bed's at the end there boy [Music] new boy what's [Music] and in the months that followed douglas would learn little about any subject except loneliness even cricket the game which he'd once laughed held no interest for him now by the end of that first term at horus hill it seemed that douglas far from being one of the empire's elite would be yet another of its victims then just when the night had never seemed more lonely douglas learned every ocean has its shore every night it's dawn i think i've caught you out which one of you would be douglas jardi ah how do you do douglas i knew you his name was andrew lang and had been a close friend of douglas's grandparents though he was now over 70 he had no hesitation in inviting the young boy to spend the holidays with him in scotland in years to come douglas would say that it was a summer that changed his life apart from a gentle sense of humor andrew lang was also blessed with a lively mind he was a man whose interests knew no bounds but his passion was cricket that's good you have a bowler's arm but knowing your father i guess you're even better with a bat did he ever tell you the secret of cricket no sir most people think it's just batting and bowling you take that boy at school he's twice your size he thinks the secret is strength crickets about none of those things crickets about thinking you don't bowl at the stamps or the bad you study the batsman and ball of a man not at his body you bowl at his mind to his weaknesses you see douglas you don't bowl a man out come on i'll race you it was a lesson douglas would never forget with his spirit rekindled by andrew lang douglas returned to school anxious to put into practice the old man's advice he took to the field with a newfound determination for the first time revealing a talent which took both pupils and teachers by surprise [Music] and our success followed success so with it came the respect and friendship of his classmates by the end of the season he was the school's best batsman the following year the captain of the team quite an achievement at a school renowned as a cradle for some of england's greatest cricketers by the time he left horus hill graduating to one of england's great public schools his reputation with the bat went before him but that carefree summer the summer of 1914 was engulfed by tragedy they called it the war to end all wars by 1919 the british empire alone had sacrificed the lives of a million men nothing in the world would ever be the same again and the years had wrought their changes in other ways douglas jardine was tall and athletic now almost aristocratic in appearance his manner forged by public schools and loneliness was reserved but behind it they lay an amazing self-reliance a fierce determination [Music] by the time his parents returned to live in england douglas was being hailed as one of the country's best college captains but like so many colonial families at the time the jardines met again as strangers [Music] you're so tall more handsome than your father i should think so and captain of winchester your father's so proud thank you we both are all those years ago your father was right i so wanted to keep you but look at you a gentleman a fine education from what i hear you play cricket the way i wanted to douglas the world is before you oxford next the law partnership in a good fam i envy you there's no need for that according to the head if we don't beat eaten tomorrow none of us will have a future oh good man well we didn't travel 8 000 miles to see you lose that's the bat you gave him in bombay [Applause] afternoon percy my respect my lord respect is not that young man's long suit strangely dressed is it just affectation no no no i don't think so no most people consider the captain of sally to be quite mad just thank god he didn't bring his damn [Applause] banjo [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Applause] how's that no they're just changing over winchesters made a great start their captains are very fine batsman first man in last man um now it's eaton's turnabout he's moving too far down as we get i'll warn him don't do that run him out but it's customer to give a warning i'm not on the village green now run him out how's that he didn't give a warning they should have warned the bathroom by showing him the ball before they ran him out mrs giardi you will have to speak today but god have that sort of thing [Applause] douglas you remember lord harris well done and of course you've heard of plum warner former captain of england and now well known as the prime minister of cricket it's a great honor a great day for winchester congratulations very convincing win thank you my lord pretty about that run out the bowler should have warned him i agree with plum i think the conventions of the game are just as important as the rule if i'd win captain today you'd have lost the match ah mr panda may i introduce my son douglas this is mr fender captain of sorry how do you do well done fine batting good feeling and a daring tactic you don't think it was wrong not at all it was eaton's number one bat if you're in town give me a call they may not play that way at middlesex but we certainly do it southern i like this night mrs jardine mr phelp i must run you should know douglas in spite of what mr fender says your father and i have never played that way for some of us qriket is more than just a game deadlift come in come in mr ah thank you i was delighted to get your call how long have you been in time uh just two days ah yes someone once said there are only three rules to modern life never play cards with a man called doc never sleep with anyone whose troubles are worse than your own and never whatever else you may do drink anything unless it's french champagne [Music] cheers cheers well tell me about your future um yes well oxford first and then the law and hopefully a chance to play for a good county team and you're thinking of sorry otherwise you wouldn't be here well eventually it has an outstanding record and then what play for your country chance to open for england if i was good enough top flight cricket breaks most men you walk out on the field your name on 40 000 lips you take guard your heart pounding sprinting towards you is one of the world's great bowlers only one thought in his head to destroy you skilled batsmen in their time the best school boys in the land have stood there paralyzed but a few men the elite of the game thrive on it they hunger for the risk they can they can dance on the edge and that is the difference between a good batsman and a test cricketer i wonder what do you want i want to play for england well don't dream about it live for it and do well at oxford have a good career to support your amateur status but play like a professional find find that state of mind now i suspect you've got the temperament for it you're calm almost arrogant and it's your courage to run out that eaten batsman and that's what you'll need most of courage well good luck [Music] [Applause] [Music] it's a great day for australia i have to rewrite the record books english taught us the game and we're defeating the five fifth straight you know that i'll never be happy to a lady you can see school board now don bradman 100 not out my name's jessie menzies i'm gonna be staying here only during the week you an orphan of course not my mom's inside what's wrong with your house nothing it's got its own orchard and creek but it's that green quarry there's no school there can you play qriket at last you show i got a blue ribbon for embroidery yeah but it's much harder can't take you off the ball not even for a second do you want to count for me see if i can get past him one [Applause] thank you he played it forward [Applause] come i could play some they're full-grown men it's half an hour closing time george what have you got to lose thanks dad all right time's up you'll have to declare there you go the men wearing what am i supposed to do bowl underarm just volume out and get to the pub [Applause] could be a bit risky look at that it's only 20 minutes to closing time [Applause] [Music] [Applause] so [Applause] [Music] [Applause] i have a beer or not [Applause] i don't touch him hold on larwood there's another four-pack [ __ ] over double or nothing you can't do it again egg come on adam you can do it and again double or nothing where you playing tomorrow it's awful how much should we be getting seven or six getting back bites tonight [Music] [Applause] that looked fast i wouldn't know i didn't see it [Music] and take me a moment to settle in that's what fender said [Applause] [Music] [Applause] fast bowler congratulations arthur you see you said you'd win you said i'd be out for a duck two-part thank you and a pound for every larwood wicket five yep well done harold fastest bowler in england in the world what do i owe you harold seven and six skipper yeah have a pound thank you very much congratulations very brisk thanks mr johnny not much past the truck today though but you can build faster oh hi well let's wait until we're on the same team [Music] cheers [Music] that's [Music] oh hello good evening you're a friend of [ __ ] yes through cricket oh no i think cricket's a game for overgrown school boys huh well i once heard it described as a game in which you have two sides one out on the field and one in each man that's on the side that's in goes out and when he's out he comes back in and the next man goes in until he's out when they're all out the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out when both sides have been in and out that's including the knockouts well that's the end of the game exactly it defies intelligent analysis as mysterious as any ritual of the hotend and just as primitive except of course to its devotees i can't understand how grown men can take it so seriously and uh what do you do i work at the british museum huh a secretary an egyptologist and you the law is my living cricket is my life and for which school do you play find the brakes next to the throne cricket is one of the greatest links of empire i'm not talking about imperialism i'm talking about boredom but don't you see on the field the batsman is never sure what sort of ball he'll be facing off spin leg spin full toss yorker a what a yorker oh a york that's a ball build right at the batsman's feet but whatever the ball the batsman only has a split second in which to decide what stroke he'll play a drive a hook defensive or offensive forward or back he can do whatever he likes but he must always conduct himself within the rules it's an ordered world but there's always the risk of the unexpected and that's why many people intelligent people believe that cricket is a metaphor for life oh really nobody can make a judgment unless there's been a fair trial come to a match [Music] i'll think about it [Music] [Music] oh oh when you're young and falling in love you do such foolish things my mother followed my father from one diplomatic post to the next i the year was 1926. once again england was playing its arch rival in australia that's england batting they wear the blue caps percy george says you're one of the finest batsmen in england yes and so he is why isn't he out there then why indeed i will england has a score of great bets only five or six make the team now i have to prove that i am outstanding don't you think you can are you that talented but not just a matter of talent as percy says himself it's more a state of mind as most men can't survive out there what about his state of mind oh i think when douglas wants something he's bloody determined uh oh dead clean bow what a ridiculous shot edith could have done bitter that's very kind of you thank you very much what happens to the batsman now well he goes back to the dressing room nobody says a word he probably places his bat rather firmly on the floor and then thinks and thinks about the shot he should have played for the rest of the match in cricket unlike life the players get a second chance both sides bet twice and when they have the team with the most number of runs wins wins [Applause] and now that the english have batted it's the australians and we can have our picnic [Music] [Applause] it runs into the fence it's a four if it goes over the fence on the full it's [Music] i even mastered the concept of the ashes as douglas never worried of pointing out cricket originated in england but in 1882 a team from australia toured england and actually defeated us the next day notice appeared in the sporting times announcing the death of english crete and somebody cremated some bales and ever since then whenever the two teams meet there's a battle royal for what's known as the ashes [Music] has cricket always been part of your marriage all my life my brothers and father were mad about it and you you never took an interest after i married max of my tried but with little success i decided then whenever he spoke about cricket and closed my eyes he'd think of england yes he's almost as hot as i am you should have been there the look of heart on the faces of the australians loved here scarcely the ball left his hand then yet another frightful australian was on his way back to the pavilion well after 125 125 champagne oh yeah champagne i should have thought black coffee no no champagne we've invited a couple of people there yes just one or two my father always used to say if you're looking for a decent fast bowler go down the nearest coal mine [Music] turned into a fine young man i find batsman too oh now look i don't think i'm talking out of turn but there's a feeling that lord about time he had a run for his country [Music] [Applause] to seek to find and not to yield [Music] and while douglas dreamed of captaining england far away in australia there was another young man with a dream of his own don bradman would not only play for his country he would shatter the world of english cricket forever will you hurry up it's almost knock-off time do you like these william sites have you got one with a shorter handle i don't know who you think you are victor trumper his name's don bradman i suggest you remember that yeah that's what all their mothers say don't forget little johnny he's gonna play for australia that's the one happy birthday son thanks mom [Music] happy birthday thanks i want to get your tip back i couldn't afford it well jessie's just what i mean it's lovely really it makes the full set of a dozen [Music] [Music] john there's a letter here for you from the cricket association well i've been selected to play for new south wales [Music] it's the sheffield shield side we'll be playing against queensland and victoria all the other states association has decided they're test the state team's only one step away from playing for australia if you get into that league i reckon you can make a living out of qriket those boats get 30 pounds a match plus good expenses that's more than 10 weeks wages yeah and there's five matches it's a whole year's salary and a season and then if you tour overseas it's a lot more they reckon 500 quid and then there's endorsements if you're a chess cricketer you can put your name to bats and boots might even get a column in the newspaper i'll have to see how i go with a state team i reckon i could hammer out a bit of a future with a bat be a bad life be a great life good morning all right ah morning george oh i think i'll give up the wine business this uh this journalism is a real lark easiest money a man ever made well it'd have to be easier than convincing you yes all you do is uh phone up your friends have a bit of a chat and then you phone this fella called the news editor he's a friendly nice channel you see when i gave him my news this morning he said fender you've got the best contacts in the business well till then i thought contact was something you made with a young woman and what did he say there he said this is a scoop well i almost laughed i thought for a moment he was gonna say hold the front page but he didn't no no evidently they only do that in the case of a royal death or war no my news didn't rate no no dr jardine selected to play for england and tour australia [Music] now you go and get some glasses george you know the shape yes yes i don't believe it are you sure chapman's the skipper sutcliffe hammond larvard of course and you i have the whole team you're from never you mine and so then the news editor says to me how would you like to go to australia and cover the tour we'll be traveling together i told you he was a nice [ __ ] hey george get yourself a class oh well done george how long will he be away six months when do you leave not for four weeks yet it's a pity there are no pyramids in australia miss you i'll miss you too [Music] my mother gave me this when i left india she said if i ever got lonely all i had to do was to wave no matter how far she'd see okay next [Music] [Music] see you next time you with the english team yes that's right carry your own bloody bags welcome to australia go on go home your tommy bastard don't buy them you might catch something [Applause] [Music] [Applause] watch that out [Music] get them [Music] you remember no matter what very proud of you [Music] head on [Music] well it isn't exactly lawns is it forget about where you are and don't worry about the heat down flat ah ah this is test cricket now remember what i told you block out everything find that state of mind good luck to ya [Music] that'll be don bradman caught from the bush he's got quite an impressive record hi he's never played england you know we'll take him mr jardine love him for dinner harold larwood was right in his test debut don bradman would fail good luck son thanks dad but he would emerge stronger more determined than ever within four years don bradman would be the best batsman in the world a sporting hero to his nation good morning good morning by then harold larwood would be the most feared fast bowler in the world and douglas jardine would be captain of england the men that made bodyline were on their [Music] way [Music] you're pgh fender aren't you that's right saw you get done in 21 huh clive cooper's a name sydney call me chuck pleased to meet you chuck this is clive cooper with a report of the first test between england and australia held at brisbane oval on november the 30th australia lost the toss and english skipper chapman decided to bat australian skipper ryder led his team onto the field which included bill woodful surely a future captain bill pomsford iron munger great bowler clary grimmett vic richardson wicketkeeper bert oldfield and don bradman a young man making his test debut who i believe holds the future of australian cricket in his hands so november 30th 1928 brisbane [Music] the first day of the first test [Music] battered first led by herbert zucker the english batsman immediately set about destroying the australian bowling dar after hour the score mounted sutcliffe 38 hammond 44 hendren almighty 169 chapman 50 hobbs 49 tate 26 and lowered a commendable 70. douglas jardine making his debut in test cricket scored a creditable 35 helping take england to a remarkable first inning score of 521 [Music] australia's morale already shaken by england's score plummeted as low with the wrecker went about his work woodville caught brilliantly by chapman production the young australian batsman don bradman about whom so much has been written in this country did not live up to the high hopes which many so-called experts hell for him lbw for 18. we once again witness the phenomenon of a young man burning bright but ever so brief as he passes across the cricketing sky australia were all out for 122 giving england a massive unbelievable lead of 399 rounds [Music] on route to sydney the english team left brisbane with a resounding victory to their credit in their second innings the tourists went from strength to strength and australia stared defeat in the face if they're going to contain this english team in the second test in sydney the australian selectors will have to make radical changes to their side radical change drop bradman it's a bloody disgrace bullet in the head's a radical change he's got more talent than all of us put together they couldn't make the same mistake again hang around [Music] australia has lost the second test in sydney a little wonder given what must be one of the worst decisions ever made by the selectors in the history of test cricket the decision to drop don bradman from the batting line destroyed their chances and lowered the morale of the whole australian team another victory for england in the second test however the on-field tactics of the english skipper apf chapman are cause for serious concern he insists on using harold larward as a stock bowler instead of for his shock value success follows success the australians are finding our bowlers unbeatable our batsman unstoppable well you'll be delighted to hear chuck the selectors have decided to give this bradman of yours a second chance call for a beer oh i don't think that'll do much good also you reckon [Music] right [Music] [Applause] he's only white of the wicked [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] he's good he's better [Music] [Applause] 94 90s [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hey [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] eight months short of his 21st birthday don bradman has become the youngest player ever to score a century in a test match england won this match and the 1928-29 series but in bradman australia undoubtedly has the keystone around whom the team of the next generation will be built and so after an absence of almost six months the english team came home it was a glorious morning late in spring and what a welcome they got for they were the victors defeating australia four tests for one retaining the ashes and proving yet again that in cricket as in most things england reigns supreme congratulations douglas you've come and tell me all the details of these centuries of yours i'm so glad i need these today what about a thousand memories for plum owner hello have a good night uh congratulations my dear fellow splendid tour first-rate batting average your parents must be very proud thank you percy george has just been telling me about young bradman hello oh yes he's quite remarkable that's not what percy was saying i think i'm about to be misquoted excuse me i've spent weeks trying to persuade him but he still can't see the truth and what truth is that douglas well like most batsman i can play one or perhaps two shots to any given ball whereas bradman can choose between four or five oh he doesn't choose he just plays the first shot that comes into his head but he has no technique now he can get away with this on those true hard australian pictures but put him on one of our green strips with morris seeming the ball late oh no he's too unorthodox i'd take the third test tonight oh not that again now it's a very good example douglas now on at least three occasions the ball was short-pitched screaming out to be hooked he played a cover drive ah it's absurd no it's not absurd at least two of those balls went for four that's the power of bread he's learned that a batsman's sole objective is to score runs and he'll play whatever shot unorthodox or not which best fulfills that purpose it makes it almost impossible to set a field to him well i'm sorry old chap but i think you're on your own well the skipper agrees with percy and says bradman just a flash in the pad and tate says that he'll have to play a straight a bat if he comes here and plays on one of our wet wickers exactly they're older men steeped in the conventional methods of play oh thank you very much bradman is something totally new he's not interested in playing classic shots he's never had any formal training so he's developed his own style a unique approach i believe if he continues to develop we could see scores none of us have ever dreamed of he could rewrite the record books he could change the very nature of the game no come come doctor that's being unnecessarily alarmist no batsman in the world has ever done that i must say in fairness there are hundreds of thousands of australians who agree with douglas out there he's become quite a celebrity it's not a very pleasant sight bradman's standing in the middle of the pitch bet raised the crowd chanting his name as a society they seem to crave heroes well i like australians it's just that they prize individualism oh indeed they continually want to elevate one man at the expense of the team i find it quite abhorrent well it's certainly not the nature of the game the heart is the team i'm afraid the australians wouldn't agree with you there lord their whole approach to cricket is different at times i wondered if we were playing the same game i'd grown up with to listen to the crowd you'd think it was a a hunt with the english as the fox to that it's just good natured barricading well questioning a man's parentage is hardly good natured idea below in australia bastard is almost a term of endearment well i come from a different world thank god the australians are not a people i'll ever warm to nothing wrong with that always easier to give a hiding to a man you dislike may i interrupt i really do feel like a cricketing widow over there haven't you finished talking about the game yet not quite mr fender and i have something to discuss do we m'lord yes what's that journalism ah do i detect a note of indifference bordering on a version the lord now don't start that banter with me i found your reporting your criticisms of chapman most distasteful now doesn't matter what your opinion of him is he is the english skipper he deserves your respect it will behold you as a county captain the man who's represented england to dispatch his tactics publicly it was an honest opinion it was my job to report it i am not talking about reporting i am talking about loyalty that is all i ask of a man not from a journalist perhaps but from a cricketer and a gentleman do you understand oh i understand but i don't agree well i'm not staying here to argue with you i've made my point but make no mistake these things do not go unnoticed i never believed they did well then why must you always be giving offense why must you be the tear away why all this affectation not affectation the lord it's my nature i suppose i could be a little more diplomatic but i've always thought diplomacy a blood brother to hypocrisy honesty is one of the things i like about percy george fender he may not be perfect but at least i can live well what was all that about oh nothing much my attitude behavior personality that's all right douglas is one thing you must learn about the lord and defeat their unbearable in victory insufferable hey-ho should we go let's [Music] 18. [Music] it was 1929 the jazz age and our lives spun from one carefree moment to the next every day we stretched out our hands further trying to gather into our arms all the glitter and prizes of our youth and yet there was a brittleness in our laughter a fever to our lives it was as if we knew deep within some recess of our minds that nothing which ran so fast could run for long around the world there was a gathering darkness waiting to close in the greatest depression the world had ever known not only of an economy but of men's spirits just as one generation had been destroyed by the great war so the next was crushed by the depression one in five people out of work industry swept away old towns devastated hunger rationing and the dome for many people there was one thing which helped relieve the misery of their daily lives and that thing was sport in such a climate the australian test side arrived in england in april of 1930 among the team were 11 cricketers making their first overseas tour all of them so young they were immediately christened in honour of their manager kelly's creche by any measure it would prove to be a remarkable test series one which those who witnessed it would never forget you see don bradman was about to rewrite the record book that's fine thanks [Music] yes same for me thanks like that three may i introduce mr percy fender skipper of surrey the finest captain never to of captain england oh thank you very much bill hi alan does he pleased to see you hello oh we didn't actually meet in 28. i feel as though i know you there i've read most of your articles oh as more than i have hello nice to see you hello i think you once described me as a schoolboy batman ah is a journalist win on the other hand douglas here is a great admirer yes we met in brisbane it has led to countless arguments i think you're in for a surprise well we'll see soon enough day after tomorrow surrey has a very good record against australian teams i think we'll give you a run for your money we'll look forward to it all the best bud good luck well don how about the school boy giving him [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] got him in two minds percy doesn't know whether hit you for a four or six [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh god and what a fool he made of me he put every ball exactly where he wanted where it would cause me the most humiliation oh don't worry percy we've forgotten in a month it's going to destroy every bowler in the land as i said he's unique and phenomenal oh nobody said we weren't born oh well done dear it's going to be a bleak summer will indeed england's only hope is to think broadly develop a new strategy one aimed solely at curbing britain you think sir i think of rainy hope's prayer at least god is an englishman or has that changed too day after day new records fell before bradman's bat the youngest batsman to score 2 000 runs in a season the fastest century in test history the fastest double century ever the highest score ever made in a test it was history in the making and on and on it went this 21 year old boy from bow driving the english crowds to delight the journalists to hyperbole and the cricketing lords to despair might as well throw stones at the rock of gibraltar [Music] perhaps you want to change the rules make little bugger bet off a handicap [Music] all we can do is pray for rain couldn't he be asked to use a smaller debt [Music] thanks to bradman english cricket was in despair as douglas had predicted he had succeeded in amassing scores other people had never been dreamt of worse still bradman had led the australians who had arrived as underdogs to victory the ashes were now on their way to australia where it seemed they would remain if not forever at least until bradman gave up cricket [Music] how old is he 21 that's right talk about a depression another 20 years of bradman oh dear god and not a boner to trouble him let alone stop him not tate not peebles not even larawood douglas larwood he heads the casualty list bradman's finished his career thanks a lot there's no profit in talking about individual burglars it's like waging war and worrying about an infantryman well that's who does the fighting yes but wars are won by generals the first thing you need is a strategy that's easy to say old chap but i don't think there's a strategy in cricket to contain bradman not to contain him to neutralize him oh that is preposterous douglas the boy's a genius a perfect combination of reaction footwork stroke making yes exactly and intelligent he's the best batsman in the world no doubt but the perfect sportsman hasn't been born yet every athlete has a weakness very comforting old boy but unfortunately you can't bowl him out with platitudes no plumber or anything else we wouldn't listen when douglas talked of him rewriting the record books perhaps we should now that he's talking of a weakness i don't claim to know what it is but i'm sure it's there you have to find it that's the first step on it can be built as strategy now no cricketer no matter how great whose skills don't contribute to that strategy should be in the english team this country led the world into the industrial age what you have to do now is to design another machine a cricketing machine a whole team designed to beat one man well i think he's that good i can't see it myself even assuming he has a [ __ ] in his armor it would leave you too weak in other areas the best teams have always contained a diversity of skills what douglass is advocating is putting all your players in one basket i know that plum but if you don't beat bredman you can't beat australia i've tried bowling him out now you hope to think him out no trouble sometimes gentlemen yes another ride today in manchester a little wonder unemployment nearly 20 percent i was thinking rather more of problem oh yes he's a problem too problem you might just as well take up tennis come on now you know the british never surrendered even when they're backed into the wall you were secretary of war where's your fight oh i've got plenty of fight but the only way i can see to get bradman out is to send in a couple of battalions according to young jardine the infantry is useful but wars are won by generals what england must have is a clear strategy go on that's the sort of thinking we need well he says if you can't bowl bradman out you must think him out he has his idea of designing an entire team to exploit bradman's weakness what weakness oh that's when it falls apart johnny's rather like a physicist talking about the atom he's never actually seen it but he's absolutely certain it exists so now just don't dismiss it if your physicists have done that the atom would never have been discovered i'm going to see young jardine it's just a theory really i saw him in the last test at the oval which was a damp wicked fading light larword got up a lot of pace the ball was rising sharply redmond started to look uncomfortable well what batsman wouldn't but every time he's faced louder he's hit him all over the field yes well you were right about one thing you always said that he had changed the whole nature of the game now we have to find our new approach that's the challenge who is there can meet it well england has some fine skippers oh chapman wyatt they had their chances this summer inadequate yesterday's men playing yesterday's game you know you have many fine qualities yourself douglas both as a man and as a cricketer of qualities that could be useful to england whereas as long as you have never been captain of a county team it's um rather difficult for you to be considered yes i know that [Music] uh has fender ever indicated to you uh how long you might remain as captain of sorry no my lord we've never discussed it would you stand down in your favor i don't know i'd never ask him he's my greatest friend not even it meant a chance of being captain of england no not even then i'm sorry oh don't don't don't i admire loyalty [Music] so what did lord almighty harris want he's been talking to warner he wanted to hear my thoughts on bradman what did you tell him oh nothing new but is that all well he congratulated me on my foresight then he rattled on about india his childhood i think he's lonely well i'm not surprised given his personality i'll wait in the car yeah shout me a minute good evening yo good evening lord i yes yes that would be possible no no no no trouble well tomorrow morning at 11. good night i'm quite sure that you don't want to spend any longer with me than you have to so i'll come straight to the point if you would milo regardless of how good a cricketer you might be i think we both realize that you will never captain england do we why is that because i say so that's why if i might be permitted an observation the lord you are no longer young no no but i am sure that the almighty would be just as distressed as me to see you as captain i am quite confident he'll leave me here for as long as i am needed and is that the purpose of this meeting for you to inform me of your divine mission i asked you here to talk about jardine he's a contender that is strong contender of course he would first have to become a county captain i believe nottinghamshire is looking for someone i was thinking of somewhere closer to home have you spoken to douglas about this yes he refused to raise it with you he has shown great loyalty and what do you say you speak of god but you give me the devil's alternative good day where the hell have you been forgotten i'm sorry you're about to go don't worry the table was booked for eight i'm sure they will have held it douglas before we go i'd like to have a chat if you don't mind had a drink well i have spent the day in st james park thinking and the upshot of it is i've decided to step down at surrey but why oh there comes a time when a man must think about his life his achievements his successes and he must be realistic i have sadly neglected the wine business of late and the truth is my best qriket is behind me that's rubbish you've been speaking to lord harris i ran into him what did he say he rattled on about india his childhood i think he's lonely do it douglas no i can't not like this but forget about the circumstances if i can't then nothing would please me more than to see you have it take it as a gift gift to a dear loyal friend that night douglas became captain of surrey within months he was to achieve his game's greatest accolade he would be named captain of england in his campaign to regain the ashes douglas's weapon would be harold larwood his plan body line the captain the captain donald george bradley born 1908 son of a carpenter from bower in new south wales son of a carpenter it's worth a thought an exceptional athlete excelling in tennis golf running shooting ping pong marbles and of course his average score in his first season was 101. he holds the record for the highest score in first class cricket 452 not out the highest score in test cricket 334 the most number of runs in a day 309 the most number of runs in a series 975 and this on foreign soil the coal in the damp of england can't phase in and in australia when it's 100 in the shade he can score 300 in the sun the man is a veritable battle machine and still only 23. if he continues in this fashion he will become the most phenomenal batsman of all time imagine what history will say about the man who was able to defeat it yes what else do you have i need all the information i can get his betting averages on every type of wicket i need to look at every time he's failed see if there's a common element we must find his weakness we're assuming he has one what we must do first is talk to some bowlers fast fellas [Music] was there no time you had him worried no mr jardine i bowled fastest and hardest i could at him but he always had my measure well a couple of our chaps did try bowling around the wicket and his legs stump well that kept down his runs bradman wouldn't have liked that no no he didn't yes he likes to make runs doesn't he thank you george apart from that there was no other time we had him in the slightest amount of difficulty at all thank you perhaps if you spoke with someone who built him more often lowered for instance harold you've pulled a lot of balls aye he hit most of them too you know i scored more runs off me than anyone in the 1930 series he's a fair and with the bat all right what about the oval the last test i'd rather forget that he scored 232 after rain had stopped play you were brought back on i got a bit of lift and thought for a moment i might have him yes he went through for a suicide run to get off strike do you remember oh with the end of a long day we'd all had enough his concentration had come well i thought that he was nervous well i am fast mr jardi yes i know harold could you just think try to remember each ball well it was one thing though i didn't play much mind at the time when you come into ball bradman there's one thing you always notice sets him apart from other batsman you don't move he stands perfectly still well the fourth and fifth ball [Music] last older as i came in to deliver i noticed some sort of uh moving sort of aging away i don't know i thought i saw his feet move but no one else noticed it did he do it again no after that he went straight through for the run sorry mr jardine it's not much but it's the only time i sensed i adam in trouble thank you harold that's it did you see it what say it again now watch his foot all right so he moved his foot douglas you're making too much of this no percy i'm not larwood also sensed something he said it was the only time that he detected any movement from bredman before the delivery oh come come all batsmen move their feet i myself all right so he moved his foot where does that get you come over here oh just a minute ready now the ball pitches short and comes at you head high how would you play it absolutely it's obvious onto the back foot play it defensively or step inside the line and dispatch it for four a preferably six fine now watch this now watch his back foot see now you do the same thing well here comes a short pitched ball what stroke you play a bloody awful one how would you feel if you played a stroke like that to a head high ball nervous precisely it could be the ball to which bradman doesn't have an answer what i need are men who can bowl short fast and accurately all after ball hour after hour yes fast burlers as many as i can get maybe what you'd like it's not what the selector is going to give you we'll worry about the selectors later let's see the bowlers first in australia the weather's hot the grounds are hard the ball loses its shine early and won't do what you want to do if you want to be in my team you will all have to be fitter than you've ever been swifter than arrow from tata's bow and twice as accurate bose what do you think about that all right it's fine by me i'm soon to be married i could use your extra money those well i just like craig bradman harold all right oh my god [Music] me [Music] now [Music] thank you [Music] [Music] very bit short aren't they no just an experiment rather dangerous experiment if you ask me someone might get hurt i said [Music] well bold harold he's the fastest bowler on the face of the earth yes but is he fast enough for bradman it is spin bowling which will be bradman if anything will especially on australian wickets nobody has used pace properly well it's good that you're thinking raw dale chap but i think you're barking up the wrong tree if i were you i'd stick to my spin attack so you believe that pace bowling is the solution to our bradman problem yes sir i do hmm what does plum think of your intentions uh well he thinks i'm wrong yes but of course he has been considering the evidence bradman has been dismissed more often by spin than by pace it's an aberration pace has never been used consistently as part of an overall strategy well tell me all about your strategy that would be premature but i do have particular requirements breadman is an unorthodox batsman we must employ unorthodox tactics do you want me to talk to the selectors well only should it become necessary i merely wanted to inform you of the state of clay you learn quickly douglas there are more games one off the field than on it so douglas became obsessed with bradman while 12 000 miles away in australia the boy wonder had become more than a cricketing phenomenon he was now a national celebrity the first of a new breed of sporting heroes his publicity value paying huge dividends for the hero of a nation [Music] for bradman the price of fame was to be a clash with bureaucracy which almost resulted in his giving up cricket and douglas jardine losing the target of all his battle plans the board will see you now mr bradman good morning doc dr robertson you sit down uh you know mr jeans morning dawn and mr oxlade thank you for coming in dawn the reason we've asked you along today is that uh we have a problem this three-way contract you've signed uh it includes writing for the newspaper yes yes well i'm afraid that is in direct contravention of control board regulations you you see don this uh clause that dr robertson is referring to specifically states just of it is but no player is allowed to write for a paper if he's also playing in the test matches is it all right for me to do the sporting promotions oh certainly certainly and to continue my radio broadcasts there's nothing in the regulations about broadcasting even though i'll be commenting on the cricket this regulation predates the introduction of the uh wireless now let me get this straight you're saying that i can promote sports goods and broadcast cricket comments on the wireless but i can't write about it in the newspaper that's correct on well that is ludicrous you must appreciate that we as the watchdogs of australian cricket must ensure some order is maintained only players whose sole occupation is journalism are exempt from the ruling and you must appreciate that i am not qualified for anything else and i can't earn a living from playing cricket in australia my only alternative would be to take up the offer to play as a professional in england well we we wouldn't want that dog what other choice do i have i will not renege on my contract [Music] yes mum [Music] jesse come in jesse's trying on a wedding dress jess i need a letter typed those gallows at the cricket board are making me jump through hoops well you can't see me in my wedding dress it's bad luck we won't be long well i'd like it now i want to catch the afternoon mail milk or lemon milk no no uh lemon bradman's request for permission to write i can't allow any player to dictate terms the ticket is a game for 11 aside not a parade of film stars this public idolatry of bradman threatens the very future of cricket oh you're right alan nevertheless we couldn't afford to lose him does he make any mention of the england offer forget without bradman would be like hamlet without the dame that's a little extreme surely besides i don't think brabham would be prepared to abandon cricket or move to england anyway there's no urgency the test series is months away i think we can afford to let you sweat on it i think we have it now listen to this ellen bose vos larwood tate the most formidable array of fast bowlers ever assembled and the batsman uh sutcliffe bob wyatt hammond duleep leyland robins i've been thinking of the nawab with pittori he's just come down from oxford he's gone home to india yes but i'm sure he'd love to come along with us on the tour play the black prince in the antibodies and you dug the joiner shall play the lord's part i hope here is a play fitted finalize the team it's time to celebrate oh i knew it was time for something i have just the thing [Music] attracting your attention although perhaps i should be wearing a cricket pad ah i noticed that there's a blank space on your dance card with there's a blank space in my life please [Music] it's the telephone yes what might be important might be don't bother i'll get it defender oh yes he is oh i see yes yes i'm saying goodbye where's lord harris's butler been hunting you all over town wants to see you immediately no can't wait till morning now the thing is he may not be around in the morning that's from our very first test in india do you remember india douglas indeed remember your first cricket bat very well and who gave it to me and i remember a small boy in bombay who told me his greatest ambition was to wear the harlequin cap i watched him grow i watched him learn the game of empire i noted with pride his captaincy of winchester and when he was chosen to play for his country no one was happier for you than i then when you were ready i saw to it that you became captain of england i recognized in you something that nobody else could see i saw a man imbued with the courage of his convictions a man who used justice when possible severity you know and i know that the time for severity is now it'll bring england back to a rightful place of supremacy and the ashes back where they belong now you can do it you are a man of vision god knows there are too few of us left but douglas don't falter don't let the selectors or the lords or anyone else obscure that vision there are men who will oppose you but they are weak men mean men they are frightened of your power now be hard be audacious towards yours get out get out shall i call the doctor ah that old leech keeper waiting for me to die but i won't give him the satisfaction not until you brought me back the axes [Music] [Music] the night lord harris lost his struggle for life i lost douglas before he entered that room he was a man with a vision when he came out he was imbued with a sense of destiny there was no stopping him i'm sorry but this is impossible it leaves no room for my pace attack but these are the recommendations of your selection committee yes sir but it is i who must lead the team and determine its strategies yes but uh we know nothing of these strategies as one who's been in my present position plum you will appreciate i'm sure that that is the captain's prerogative yes yes but as captain i always listen to my selection committee are you saying you know better than plum than all of us in this matter sir yes i am well i could never agree to this team of yours i must support plum either i lead my team or i lead no team at all you cannot dictate terms to the mcc well in that case my formal resignation will be in your hands tomorrow good morning the lord's report on the horns of a dilemma perhaps douglas could retrieve the ashes for them but at what cost so it was that plum warner found himself summoned by lord hawk to a meeting with the secretary to the king sir clive wiggum his majesty is quite fond of young bradman of course he would like to see the ashes back in england it seems jardine may be able to accomplish that i can't help feeling well with jardine as captain we may win the ashes but we may also lose a dominion we believe we have a remedy for that if we send along a strong team manager a man experienced in the rigors of touring cricket and a man loved by the australians so plum warner became watchdog for the tour and douglas got his team son glad you didn't take up that england offer come right spare a word if you can keep up chuck that ain't team i've got jardine's team back page what's he got in mind this is the gomont british news presenting the homeland to the dominion the mcc team leaves england vice captain bob wyatt and middlesex fast bowler gabby allen arrive at southampton docks to be met by skipper douglas jardine and team manager plum warner the mcc team is departing for australia in an attempt to regain the ashes lost in 1930 will they prevail against the heat and the dust and the flies and above all against the australian batting phenomenon don bradman allen will form part of a formidable array of fast bowlers men like left-hander bill vos and pride and nottingham harold larward chatting with yorkshireman bill bowes a late addition to the team little lancastrian eddie painter demonstrates his form with the bat wicketkeeper leslie aims seems to be offering valuable hints to painter who's representing england abroad for the first time in the midst of economic turmoil the bonds of empire are stronger than ever bound for australia on hms arantes is british government representative mr ernest crutchley to all our far-flung people i say let us get together and keep together and never drift apart we are of one stock we share the same idea let us go forward side by side helping each other over the rough patches and sharing the good things when they come a commonwealth of nations with a common wealth of interests and affections [Music] excuse me ladies i hate you but mr ellen and wyatt have a prior engagement [Music] 7 98 99 centigrade [Music] it what an adventure we have before us we have a real battle ahead of us paddy i promise you at least one century excellent i need all i can get for interrupting you but uh i thought we should have a little talk yes certainly that one a strategy not yet douglas i'm one of five fast bowlers i wonder what part you see me playing i'd like you to take as many wickets as you can good happens man guppy is one of your fast builders bob is your vice captain and i'm your team manager surely we have a right to know well of course you have but at the right time i should have thought the right time is now plum i am sorry you simply must trust me well it's time for the four o'clock run see you later well how goes it boys oh mr johnny you feeling fitbose i sir like a racehorse before the derby you know what they're saying about us boys they say breadman's got us licked now well we'll see about that they say if we can't beat them on the english [ __ ] what chance do we have on this ball faster sir do you know what it's like in the australian summer bows the ground is hard the pitch is slow and kind to batsman and the australian son well harold will tell you you'll lift to curse it [Music] what is it you want to a skipper [Music] i want you to bowl faster than you've ever done before and more accurately i will call upon you to do it hour after hour day after day and to do curse not only the sun the name jardine our reward will be the ashes [Music] goodbye again bye welcome already [Music] oh it's a local character ernest jones used to be a fast bowler i saw him breaking batsman's rhythm oh now he just follows the australian team around his house now australia are dead search for the ushers what can you expect from australia [Music] gentlemen we are entering the land of the barbarian [Music] joking aside we of the australian cricket board are proud to make the first gesture of welcome to the english team i would now like to call upon a great man of cricket and a great man of empire the mcc manager mr pelham warner thank you dr robertson and members of the australian cricket board for those kind words of welcome there are no better hosts nor no truer friends than australians i admire your sterling character and have developed a healthy respect for your cricketer you know the very word cricket has become a synonym for all that is true and honest to say that he's not cricket implies something underhand something not quite in keeping with the best ideals and this is the aim of the marabon cricket club of which i am a humble if devoted member to preach the gospel of british fair play as developed in its national sport [Applause] [Music] jack fingerton and drinking them what does that badge mean it's our cricket board sir they won't let mr bradman play in the test i'm sorry mr bradman said they won't let him play something wrong it appears mr bradman will not be playing in the series lioness not the australian cricket board the bureaucrats have struck again with the full force of their mediocrity i beg your pardon clive cooper associated press bradman's writing for a newspaper the board doesn't think it's cricket what's he doing here ah the board in its wisdom will permit him to play in all the preliminary matches but not the test matches dr robertson it's true yes i'm afraid sir oh this is totally bizarre i've traveled 12 000 miles to play against him surely you're here to play against an australian 11 not just an individual yes well of course you see the board does have a very strict policy in this matter we did not approve the selection of any player for any test site who was also writing on that particular test series is this decision irrevocable certainly not it's entirely mr bradman's hands whether he plays on it well what does he have to do he simply promised not to write while he's playing in a test series and have you discussed the matter with him the board is shortly meeting with mr bradman in sydney i trust we shall resolve the matter then but alan surely i don't have to remind you we're in the middle of a severe economic depression people are reluctant to part with their money and they certainly won't do so if they can't watch bradman the game is more important than the individual if we allow ourselves to be dictated to by players who knows where it will end one day matches for the convenience of the press later starting times to suit the radio stations giving it to bradman could set an unhealthy precedent well it'll be unhealthy if we lose money on this tour and we will lose money if bradman doesn't play more to the point we'll lose the test series if bradman doesn't play it isn't whether we win or lose it's whether we win or lose the australian public doesn't want to see the english going home with the ashes mr bradman is here oh send him in just give us a minute though well then we're agreed we can't back down but alan before you agree leave it to me i know that when it comes to the crunch you'll want to play in the tests morning dr robert come in come in take a seat thank you cup of tea no thanks now don um as we as we explained to you at our last meeting the situation with your present contract is a very delicate one but dr robertson i wrote to you about that months ago as you requested what more can i do well you see uh our problem is don that we can't approve the selection in a test of any player who is writing about that series i'm sure you will appreciate dawn that it could be most disruptive to have one member of the team commenting on the selection or performance of any other member of the team the problem is that only players whose sole occupation is journalism are exempt from the ruling yes and and your case you're also promoting sporting goods and uh broadcasting on the wireless well that makes three occupations i have a three-way contract part of which involves writing for the newspaper it is a contract which i must honor if that means giving up cricket then i will give up cricket no don surely you can reconsider no i came here today to ask the board to reconsider it seems that i've failed we can't have him dictating to this board if we stand fast i know he'll back down don't let those fools on the control ball get to you they're just petty bureaucrats full of their own importance and i can't expect you to give up that newspaper contract when half that money playing cricket if they don't allow you to play because of some silly little rule then millions of australians will come down and drag them out of their offices and throw them off the sydney harbour bridge it's not just them you know they all reckon he's mad bringing five fast bowlers out here because our wickets are slow but he's up to something and i don't know what it is [Music] [Music] we were wondering if we could have a chat but it's about tactics for the tests yes well well it it's just that all this training on ship and the occasional remarks should make this well we don't know how it is we're supposed to play you're supposed to play the way you're told that's what i brought you here for i told you all right well that's what we want to do skipper but we'd like to know how and why why if i bloody well say so that's why if you don't like it you can take the next boat back to india i told you to say that well i hardly think that could be right skipper i mean a man deserves to know what's expected of him how can he do his best as a bowler is that the way you feel as well those hi i'm with the lights you harold mr jardine i know he stuck up for me when others were against me and i'm grateful to you for that know i'd do anything you asked me to do on a cricket field but i do believe i'd do a lot better if i knew what you're after very well sit down all of you come along i'll take this thank you thank you now i have impressed upon you all the importance of accuracy we must be systematic we must concentrate our attack on one side of the world now look here here's the reason i believe we should attack the lakeside i shall back you up by placing a field something like this [Music] i should place one or perhaps two men on the other side here and here then a couple in the deep here and the majority close in on the leg side two leg slips backward square leg short forward square leg and very silly well that's old-fashioned leg thing i will always keep the runs down i don't just want to stop them scoring i want to get them out that's why you must be accurate i want a bell short and to make the ball rise up at the beds if he hooks he risks being caught in the deep if he defends he risks popping a catch up to the leg and he doesn't wow he risks getting it precisely no benson likes being especially bad harold you remember the oval in 1930. all right welcome scored 232 now that's mine now we must pull out all the stops i want you to all build this form of like theory of trial matching melbourne right sounds good to me short and fast let's keep this to ourselves uh mr island i'll talk to gabby i don't want to be discussing this with anyone i want this to come as a surprise to mr [Music] [Music] so [Music] yes here's the team for today's trial i'm sorry douglas uh you'll notice that i've given you four fast bowlers you needn't use guppy much but i'd like you to give larwood vos and bows a thorough workout yes i've instructed them to try a bit of leg theory so you'll give them whatever field placings they ask for what they're playing four fast bowling [Music] are you ready for the tops bill where's jardeen mr jardine's not playing mr wyatt i'd like to change the field a bit of course hell what would you like try some leg theory well douglas said you might they've only got 50 on the board it seems a bit early to go on the defensive i no well i want to go on the attack see the ball may have lost a chime but the pitch is still lively good bit of bounce i'd like two men in the deep and four close in on leg side please it seems a trifle existed look what so i give you one extra man closing mr jardim wanted me to try it with more skipper poor you say 9 please yummy short forward square leg please bill deep square leg walter leg gully watch this [Music] [Music] ah [Music] so [Music] uh [Music] i'm actually bowling at the batman [Music] you know what yes all right yeah yeah you aren't sure yeah it's fine come on fastest where would you like us to feel this time bob normal positions please mr wyatt i have the same feel as arrow thank you [Music] so [Applause] [Music] [Applause] oh [Music] [Music] try not to get hit [Music] what is it is it true that you went fishing keeps himself to himself that's all it was right about those leg theory tactics anyway he knows what he's doing all right [Music] have you seen the newspapers i'm rather worried about what the australian press is saying about our boeing tactics i'm not interested in what the australian press has to say it's just they uh suggest that our tactics are uh that they could cause a nasty accident or none of my tactics is accidental my dear fellow you don't understand they are saying that we are deliberately trying to hit the batsman this could cause considerable friction for us well that is a managerial problem within your realm i am here to win the ashes [Music] it just seems to me it was simply a lively wicket that day then of course there was the rain in melbourne there's always the rain yes there was the rain and it was a lively wicket but i've played a lot of cricket on lively wickets and i know that that bowling was part of a premeditated plan of attack are you suggesting that these tactics are against the rules i'm suggesting that these tactics are against the spirit of the game thank you for your concern down we'll certainly look into it we face a very dangerous situation and if you don't act on it now somebody will get killed that's a trifle dramatic surely dawn dawn we're here to discuss the matter of your writing during the tests you don't seem to understand how dangerous this thing can be this ball weighs five and a half ounces a fast bowler like larwood propels it towards the batsman at 100 miles an hour that gives the batsman a fraction of a second to decide whether to play the ball or get out of the way what did you on the board talk about cricket [Music] don you all right yesterday [Music] hello dr robertson i'd like you to know you won't have to make a decision regarding my husband in the first test the doctor's just seen him and decided that he's unfit to play here's dr peters now on behalf of radio station tui welcome to the sydney cricket ground on this fine second of december it's certainly a day which every qriket fan in australia has been waiting for since 1928-29 when the english cricket team last visited our show that occasion they took the ashes back to england with them thousands and thousands of cricket lovers are streaming into the sydney cricket ground on this the first day of the first test between england and australia despite the loss of don bradman captain woodfool will lead a strong team of experienced greats ponsford grimmett oldfield kippax and richardson and the oxford jack fingerton is playing in his first text stanford and tortured in 1930 will be playing with his first test in australia you're dressing for the heat finger no for the scanners nappa hello there i'm alan harvey uh london cover sydney i usually cover tennis actually oh sorry this is my first test that's my only hater [Music] we're reminded of what great names are included vice captain wyatt has been an english skipper herbert sutcliffe and wally hammond will undoubtedly go down the history of sport as cricket immortals australian-born gabby allen is now a top amateur and of course there's a fierce and awesome talent of that great bowler harold wood the nottingham professional and for those of you who are not familiar with larwood he's not very tall only five feet nine in height but in the world of cricket he's right on top of fastballing we see him now approaching jardin who examines the pitch before commencing his field places and the applause from the huge crowd as the australian opening pair woodful and ponsford make their way down to the gate [Music] good luck fellas oh mum's made your favorite chocolate cake she said you're only to get a piece if you're still in at lunch but the armada certainly has i'll be there good luck mate i'll take larwood good luck woody good morning bill gubby lovely day for us yeah middle and leg thanks george that's fine now wally that is center and leg right arm over bill [Music] [Music] [Applause] yes opens the screen for australia with a single the two bills the great opening pair woodville and ponsford out there in the middle with all australia right behind me [Music] [Applause] come on [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] yes it's a good solid start for australia with ponsford on 10 and wood full on four there's a firm stroke again from points but it could be a couple more with jardine racing right after the boundary they're not scoring all that quickly but the crowd doesn't mind that and both batsmen are starting to look quite confident in australia wicked for 16 the open is good full in ponsford looking solid against the fast attack of lowered and vase [Music] come on the first four of the innings and jardine once again chased the ball all the way to the boundary and he hasn't moved back even though it's the end of the over england's captain looks deep in thought try some legs right short forward square leg please get me herbert leg slip wally leg gully bill second leg slip [Music] patty it's on for young and old so jardine has decided to use this unusual placement and this is my first opportunity to speak about the packed onside field which we saw for the first time in melbourne last week there are wide open spaces on the offside and the criticism of this leg theory is that the fast bowlers livewood and vase appear to aim directly at the batsman rather than the stumps and my question for jardine if he's not trying to bowl about how does he expect to dismiss experienced batsmen like woodfall ponsford and mccabe [Music] woodful has the strike and lowered ready to start this first over with the new packed field on the on side and it's short woodville's been hit he made an overhead attempt to get away from that ball and it struck him on the shoulder on the left shoulder just glares down the pitch and goes back to his bowling mark the field's been crowding in [Music] flywood racing up at top speed and this one's a real thunderbolt and woodville ducking down as it goes through to the keeper the whole character of this game has changed in two balls a moment ago the baton right on top but larwood plus this new field has brought a different complexion to this test match already harwood again and he's played it away and yes he'll get runs here this gives the crowd something to cheer i've taken one they'll call for a quick second return the misfield there their turn a dive by woodford but he's safe and two more to australia [Music] it's a left arm ball of verse to come in from the far end he'll belt here to ponsford and ponsford's been hit there's a nasty one got him right on the wall for the first time has been hit pretending to walk across in front of his stumps bruce hasn't got the real pace of lowwood but he's very quick [Music] once more just places one around the outside they'll go for a single and that will bring good food down to face the left arm dollar voice [Music] woodville the man they call the unboxing just pull away from that bundle to a short about chest high right over the top of the middle stump verse again woodward gets an edge happy it's gone to the keeper there's an appeal for court behind woodfall is he out yes australia won for 22 and it's the youngster fingerton and his first test match were joining ponsford feel that at number three the spot usually occupied by don bradley the wicket fell off the last ball of the over and ponsford will be taking strike here to the new waiver from larwood [Music] here he's going right in front of his stumps here's larwood and ponsford goes back this time and plays on the onside gets a run he's called them through and they've taken a single yes they'll be three for one nice return but well run now that brings fingerling to face his first ball the youngster looking pretty nervous to me he'll be looking for that first run and here's a rocket from why would that scratch them just above the waist it must have hurt i'm just rubbing the spot there things and learning very quickly what tasman's picket's all about [Music] fingerling goes down over his back again facing the fastest man in the world now comes larwin fingerton plays as a madness looking shot he might get around his call three by puncher they go through kingdom has scored his first run in the first match with a very streaky shot [Music] [Applause] that's a sequence of four straight short pitch balls with one in the middle that was on the stumps now what will lauer do this time falling to ponsford and ponsford goes across and has gone right out his leg stumps being knocked out of the ground once we're too far across and ponce would be involved [Music] okay [Music] [Applause] uh what a major turnabout here at the cricket ground and it's not good news for australia ever since jardine altered his field and ebola started using leg theory australia has collapsed woodfall ponsford fingleton kippex all out it's four for 72 and now mccabe joins richardson at the crease come on vic let's give these ponies middle thing something little to the odd right [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] rugged stuff [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] yes [Music] come on [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] stan mccabe has captured the hearts of every man woman and child at this ground he's 77 now he's taken some risks but can he go on in face of this english attack and score a century the bay stan mckay has taken over the mantle of don bradley come here leave harold for a while happy two douglas but i'm not burling to this field the old bowl as i tell you to go it's bad enough having true feel to it i won't bow that way you will if you want to play you can't threaten me do you want to play or not italy [Applause] [Music] [Applause] the crowd riled with excitement mccabe is 97 another three to make one of the greatest centuries ever seen on this ground he's taken many chances but surely dane fortune will smile on him for just three more runs [Applause] yes [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] yes [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] oh [Applause] [Music] don't expect me to do it again [Music] at lunch on the second day of the first test australia all out first things for 360 and of these no less than 187 to stan mccabe and his batting on this second morning was just sensational now it's england's turn and can ham hammond sutcliffe and company and the newcomer brutality do as well as the australians you are the cream of england's batsman i know that none of you is seeking personal glory that you each share my philosophy of cricket is a game for eleven aside i shan't try to let you on batsmanship the condition of the wicked and so on you're all prepared for that [Music] herbert well perhaps you should be offering me advice [Music] bob this is your first time here your first time as opener i know that you'll rise to the occasion [Applause] walter i recall that you were described as the greatest batsman in the world i know that you'll live up to that as for your highness i counted an honor to be your friend as well as your cat may this be a glorious test they do for you what can i say though all we made depart [Music] the old commandments stand and patience keep your heart and strength lift up your hand [Music] [Applause] [Music] uh [Applause] [Music] [Applause] uh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] uh we've got them beaten now do you think we can ease up a bit on the short pitch bowling and the leg theory not well mr bradman is up there watching like an avenging demon larwood has taken five for 28 and australia is all out for 164 at the close of play australia's combined total of 524 is exactly the same as england's huge first innings this means that england has to score one run only tomorrow morning to win the first test and happy prospect for australia i'm just gonna pay a shilling to see that tomorrow i am you would too if you believed and so with the absence of bradman england triumphs and the first of the five tests in stock the critical questions are will bradman be fit for the second test stop if so will the cricket board allow him to continue to play stop and finally the jardines men continue bowling on the line of the bodies that'll be three and four pins thank you quicker left me cat behind could you just send that off dear uh i'll go back and get my wallet i'm sorry i'm not allowed to do that look fair go if i don't send that off i'll miss the deadline how much is it three informants how's that are you four points short i'm sorry all right i can lose a few words how many do i have to lose three it's two words no it's not madame it's one body line body line [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] i think what jesse it's dr robertson hello yes i see well i don't have any choice i have signed a contract to write for a newspaper look it's a contract and i intend to honor it dr robertson i can't play cricket forever i've got to think of a career and if cricket interferes with my career then i must give up cricket now i'm afraid that's final goodbye [Music] good night john just like busy hello joke mr pack is busy you want to see me we're in big trouble you heard about the board's decision they're not going to let him play because he's going to honor his contract to you now they're cutting off their nose to spite their face it could be an improvement eh it's not doing our cricket any good bradman's our one chance of keeping the ashes the whole of australia worships the man it's not just sydney he's all a lot of them have got to brighten up their lives many of them haven't even got a job by jingos they've got their national pride it's our sporting men and women who feed that pride the pommy said to change the rules of billiards to try to stop all the lyndon the yanks murdered philip and now our own australian cricket board is trying to nobble bradman there are some fine batsmen on the aussie team i'm not denying that but without the don we might as well burn the biles now and hand the asses to jardine on a silver platter i know i know i don't have to tell you how hard times are your newspapers carry stories every day of the destitute the unemployed the helpless the homeless the heartache it's a grim picture this country needs heroes and that's what don bradman is here gentlemen when don bradman was offered a contract to play qriket in england i gave him a job so he could stay here and play for australia now you're holding my contract against him and all australia don't you realize what bradman means to this country we'd like nothing better than to have don play but the board is restrained by standing orders in other words gentlemen you want me to carry the baby for you yet again well done these gentlemen aren't keen on your writing for me it seems there's nothing in my agreement with them which obliges me to play cricket but my contract with you is very fair mr packer you can force me to write oh i realize that but i want you to forget writing for the time being that's right don i'm releasing you from the contract you can play in the tests if you want to [Music] in that case mr pecker i will play at last i have come 12 000 miles for this at last i have come 12 000 miles from this [Music] can't sleep jess [Music] doing what you do best just got there tomorrow and hit him for six [Music] get ready bill you'll be playing today oh i skipper i'm sorry heavy you'll be resting i'm trying a pace attack [Music] why aren't you dressed frankly douglas i wasn't sure i'd be playing of course you are so robin is playing just get dressed please coming you know i won't bowl to your legs here you feel don't you very well covers douglas you've uh changed the composition of the team that's right without consulting me it wasn't time to convene a meeting besides it was a straightforward substitution well boy you're entering this match without a single slow bowler do you think that wise i wouldn't have done it had i not thought it wise besides i had to accommodate for the inclusion of breadman in the team this bradman mania of yours could cost us the advantage we now hold [Music] done [Music] uh you're in my satan oh terribly sorry good morning from melbourne and welcome to this direct radio broadcast of the first day of the second test it's a fine day here and i estimate the crowd to be somewhere between 60 and 70 000 for this vital game australia won down in the series after england won the first testing in sydney and the news is that australia will bat after woodville won the toss and all australians must be asking the question if the england captain jardine will employ the controversial leg theory field called body line now by the australian newspapers we're ready now for the first ball of the second test it's an orthodox field we have lowered running into baltimore fingleton he runs up now and bowls and fingleton plays the way on the offside and he and woodpool are going to scamper through for a single but paul was pitched up right on the stumps it wasn't short and australia has a run on the board because there are high hopes here for the australian hero don bradman who'll be batting in this match after missing the first test in sydney through illness at the end of the first hour i started number five with fingerlings it's short and fingerling hooks through the leg side field to be a couple here getting out towards the boundary they come back for a second and uh fingleton runs on the 17th australia it's already going well this fix looks easier than the one for the first test in sydney now it's back to a new over from alan he'll be bowling from the far end to woodful and woodville goes back and he's beaten and bowled look for this out and from none to 27 australia one to 27. [Music] um [Music] comes in so the stage therefore is set for a major innings by don bradman [Music] it's a dogged performance by fingleton he's ready for bowman again the dollar races in and this one's a short ball and fingerprint's struck again and he's not very happy out there at all nor is the [Music] crowd [Music] cricket [Music] the tall yorkshire man goes to boulder fingerton [Music] australia now two wickets down for 67 and the stage here is set for don bradman [Music] now we'll see some action [Applause] oh oh [Applause] done [Applause] oh play has been held up for 10 minutes already because of the record crowd with a tremendous welcome to don bradman he was applauded from the moment he appeared [Applause] [Music] bill herbert he then signaled to his slip fields to move across to the on side [Music] easy [Music] outside the off staff it was an inviting height batman tried to step inside it and hook it away to lake side boundary and it must have hit the inside edge and go back under his stumps i can't believe it don bradman is out first ball and i've never seen a scene like this is a qriket match in my life he's walking off the field and there's not a single sound i couldn't play another shot like that for a million pounds [Applause] it could have happened to anyone but it happened to me jesse i've let them all down [Music] and that's the end of england's first innings on this the last day of nineteen thirty two as parent leaves england by 59 runs australia 228 england 169. we'll be back on monday for the continuation of this exciting second test until then i wish you all a happy and prosperous new year [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] now here's mother happy new year jesse happy new year happy new year happy new year son and son how about a century for the new year i'll try yes you take care bye bye [Music] happy new year ah gonna be stopping hey happy new year to you bud happy new year for being called for inside they want you to give them a cuny ladies and gentlemen don bradman the master with the willow the maestro of the irish they only serve australians here mate it's on me ryman thank you very much can you piss tomorrow you won't be able to do a round with a revolving door happy new year [Music] hi ryan two more thanks schooners it's nice to see our champs enjoy themselves as long as it doesn't affect their performance it might help if i may say so douglas they've been under a lot of pressure there's been some discontent what about the fact that we've contained breden of course but some of the lads feel you could be driving lower too hard has la would complain no he has and he won't because he's a professional he knows that he owns his money playing credit yes but the amateurs don't some of them are a little worried about our tactics oh guppy well we all know that gubby is a friend of club not just gabby there's the nawab by the time his highness learned there is one man who decides tactics and that is the captain any man royal highness or not who doesn't accept that there's no place in my view well i'm just letting you know what the feelings are i know bob it's very good of you i suppose that's what vice captains are for [Music] mr [Music] um [Music] hey [Music] the man has won welcome again to the melbourne trigger ground for the third day of play of this the second test australia in a good position to hear a commanding position in fact and they could level the series at one all in this huge amphitheatre just a vast sea of phases it wouldn't surprise me if this wasn't a world record crowd for a single day of a test despite that unfortunately quite extraordinary duck by don bradman australia recovered well through some must eating by the tail enders to make 228 and england made a good start but they lost nine for 61 through the bowling over the wall and placed nine batsmen between them [Music] is the same needed to make runs but he himself has found it important to eradicate the memory of that the england class bowlers have struggled with two on this pitch and captain jardin must have regrets about not having the services with a quality spin brother such as headley verity we'll be watching now as lowered comes in again to build a left-handed o'brien lowered bells are brian's beaten the off stump goes out of the ground and o'brien is out [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] three chance for don bradman hey [Applause] and it's an emotional welcome to australia's greatest quickener a magnificent don brent [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] so [Applause] [Music] and don bradman has caught his first runs of the match his first of the [Music] series [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] i see that his highness is a conscientious objector [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yes [Applause] [Music] right here [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] uh [Music] yes [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] that's right [Music] concrete [Music] it's been a day of high drama in the second test here at the melbourne cricket ground and the important news for australia is that don bradman is not out and he gets more runs here they take two they're coming back for a third run and brett bradman's score goes on to 30 and his partner out there is the australian captain bill woodfield [Music] full hawks but a great catch there in the short leg that's alan who got across and wood pull is out for 26. good luck and the cave has been cleaned by allen for a duck richardson on 32 is facing the bowling of plywood [Music] he goes back he's wrapped in the pads he's right in front yes he's out late before richardson out for 32 australia five for 135 a lead of 194 and the man who can win this match for australia is don bradman but he's running out of partners with the australian wicked stumbling [Music] bradman is 83 getting closer and closer to that elusive century but can he do it it's not going to be all that easy he has only the tail ends to support him and they're known in cricket has the rabbits and it's hammered with his medium paces to bolt a wall and he's built him yes wall is out for free and australia ate eighty four firewood bowls to bradman he's on 96. he'll get runs here they take a single he goes to 97. they're coming back to the second run and batman goes on for 98. why did he take that second run that was the last ball of the over he'll lose the strike hammond to baltimore raleigh that's an agent that's gone true to aims the keeper and yes he's out caught australia nine for 186 and only iron manga to come don't joke about it don't even try to hit the ball unless it's absolutely necessary just hold out till the end of the island he'll call you back don's in trouble now son not dainty not ferret huh mr ahn monger doesn't look much like a ferret to me that's what they call him it'll be all right son i won't let you down well most bowlers just say they can't bet to save their lives they come in at the end of the innings they're called rabbits now dainty they call him a ferret because he goes in after the rabbits right arm over three balls to come [Music] three [Music] another coat of varnish [Music] at the end of his bowling run iron manga crouching over his bat a hush silence here around the ground hammond starts to move in comes up and he bowls handed through to the keeper it was short no stroke upward behind manga one ball left in the over jardin brings in the field [Music] you're a little easy one ball left in this dramatic over not a sound around this ground [Music] hammond no iron man it's off the bat it's in the air jarvan dives it was a catch but he's dropped it he couldn't take it and don bradman has a chance to reach that hundred well quiet daddy it's the end of the over it's all right they lead now by 245 but the important thing is that don bradman has the strike and a chance to make that hundred dollars roll them short dig them in fold them wide anything so we can't get any runs we can make it down this hand pretty [Music] good bradman crouched out over his back to bother his face jardine taking a long time to place his [Music] field [Music] he's pulled around the onside that we runs here he sets up for the first one that takes him to 99. they're coming back now for the second a chase there for howard who's limping they come back for the second one that's bradman's hundred he wants a third row it hasn't just inside the fence they're going for the third run the return comes back and will get home it comes back to the bowlers and brethren dives i think he's safe and don bradman has reached a century [Music] [Applause] one of the greatest centuries ever seen on this ground [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] yes [Music] um and just listen to this [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] that's it england all out for and thirty nine baptize the tesla's at one all australia has won the second test by 111 runners and just listen to that mighty reception out there local team here at the melbourne journey what a proud proud day for us [Music] [Applause] [Music] are you coming to congratulate the australians if you'll permit me one small observation all right i miscalculated but the wicked was doctored what he was saying that the curator would deliberately go out there quick it was deliberately underprepared whether the curator acted under instructions or not i cannot say i fear you are making excuses for your own errors of judgment i warned you against acting wrestling and i told you that i shall be making the tactical decisions on this tour your obsession with bradman has clouded all your decision-making and that is the reason we have lost his tests i shall not allow that situation to repeat itself in adelaide excuse me mr gianting yes what is it well i've just discovered anthony playing social match at weekend it should be the 12th man i will i thought i might have a bit of time off before adelaide what were you planning to do well i was simply just open to rest my feet i had to leave the field four times in second test yes i'm well aware of it you spent an hour away from the game all told i've been still bald more obvious than anyone else you would hold a lot more if you hadn't been off the field so often i couldn't help it my boots kept splitting i balled his hard as i could no you didn't none of you did that's why bradman's got his century and the australians won the test folks and balls aren't in this social team though harold listen to me you are my principal weapon the spearhead of my attack not votes and bows i want you fit for adelaide fitter faster and meaner than you've ever been something to be 12 man then no no you can play but i expect to see you at the practice nets tomorrow aye right all i don't want treatment like this anyway the amateurs have fed up with them so i better watch out natalie i'll stay in here i'll have one [Music] uh [Music] [Music] harold [Music] when you're done [Music] uh [Music] take it easy done it's only practice you know [Music] hey hey fancy cat have a look at the boy next to you he'll show you how it's done [Music] did mummy call yourself run it on the phone hey [Music] i want this rebel excluded from all further practice but the public is always i did not come all this way to provide free entertainment for the masses i do not want them here after come on luncheon on hey what's all this no spectators are loud orders of the cricket board and sardines go to the bakery we'll see about this i can go anywhere on the press yeah now look james hang on he's uh he's who's that your assistant i've never seen him before in my life stay all right but don't you cause any trouble jamesy i'm sorry there are some members of the press outside who want a statement practice is for the players not for the public i certainly don't wish to speak to the press about it my dear champ we cannot afford to risk any further bad blood we have already come under attack for our tactics on the field i shall settle that matter once and for all show them in everything we have done has been well within the laws of cricket we have placed a more difficult field and is ordinarily employed with fast bowling and have been successful in curbing the activities of the batsmen but i can assure you that there is nothing new in the stratagem nor any greater danger than in any other bull it has been successful so far and mr warner and i hope that it will go on being successful is that right mr warner you support the tactics of mr jardine and in particular this bodyline bowling well um as mr jardine says it is uh a legitimate form of leg theory ah would this be the same leg theory that you derided in the morning post of august 22nd 1932 and i quote these tactics should be deplored with five men on the leg side the balls were short pitched and frequently bounced head high and more if all fast bowlers were to adopt these methods there would be trouble and plenty of it this is not bowling indeed it is not even cricket now in light of that article mr warner would you say that you described the current english attack to be cricket well the uh circumstances were entirely different in london and uh how different well um if you'd researched a little further mr cooper you would have discovered that i was playing in that match and i faced that leg theory field the circumstances then as mr warner correctly points out we're completely different oh would you care to find the difference mr jardine nope i would not and the people of adelaide i welcome you all and we hope that your stay in our fair city will be indeed a happy [Applause] a little cooler out here it's a little quieter anyway the sun would be just now sitting at my home in india it truly never sets up on the british environment you are very much the empowerment aren't you douglas ah it's what makes we british the greatest race on earth we must all have the courage of our convictions do what we think best but we must play the game by the rules too by the rules yes but also to win winning is everything to you isn't it no patty but i see no honor in defeat what do we want of me douglas simply your support on the field the field of honor i cannot play your way douglas i'm your captain surely you'll agree to abide by my decisions if i can't then i should prefer it if you didn't play at all then that is how it must be i cannot play your way douglas my friend you will never play test cricket again [Music] with the series level at one all i need to tell you how important victory is not only to us but to the morale of people back home i have inspected the wicket and i'm pleased to say that it is much truer than in melbourne needless to say i expect nothing less from our bowlers than their best all right well it weren't only the ball and that were weak in melbourne it's quite correct harold there will also be a few changes to the batting lineup eddie painter will be replacing patodi and i am well aware that i have not scored enough runs indeed should you all believe that my performance doesn't warrant selection i am perfectly happy to stand down i don't want anyone playing who's going to let the side down that includes myself yes well i'm sure i speak for the team when i say that your valley was a tactician far outweighs your temporary loss of batting form i for one want you in charge on that field today i think you should play douglas if i may say so skipper there is just one complaint you never win the bloody toss i really would like the chance to bat first for a change i'll do my best thank you excuse me mr jardine it's me lucky charm got me into team might help you win toss thank you eddie thank you bloody marvelous congratulations [Applause] i think we should bet good morning and welcome to the adelaide oval where the news is that england has won the toss and jardine has elected to bat this is the third test and the series stands at one match order the ground is in splendid condition after yesterday's rain and may have livened the pitch up a bit on this beautiful hot day a huge crowd is already in hand anticipating some very interesting cricket there are changes to both sides for australia ponsford returns in place of o'brien and for england verita replaces those and the know of the county has been omitted allowing eddie painter to make easter bird [Music] and its jardine and his harlequin captains take the first ball here from wall he comes up in bowls and this is pushed into the covers they think of one but grabbing out there like a panther a beautiful piece of fielding his return comes back right over the stumps to oilfield and no run there and great applause from the pro-australian crowd it's a very slow and patient start by england with runs just coming here at the adelaide oval and the singles have been the story of the morning and you opened a jardine as hardly played a stroke ready now for the next ball to come in from wall and this one he has a swinging snake now it's gone through the keeper there's no chance there yeah you're a lucky bastard no just a bastard [Music] i've come to demand an apology ah what for i don't appreciate being called a bastard fair enough which one of you bastards call this bastard a bastard [Music] and so england after a hopeless start when they lost four for 30 have fought back to a respectable first inning score of 341. that was reached mainly due to two excellent partnerships between mainland and wyatt and secondly between painter and verity the anus is now very strongly on the australians all right you blokes all right we're all square 341 it's well within range on this ground jardin knows it so he and his boys will be coming down hard make no mistake so let's get our heads down and show them that we can handle anything they have to offer there's a lot at stake here i want to win this match as much as you blokes what's more important is to show the palms that we know how the game is played and of course remains to be seen if and when jardine will use the controversial body line tactics that expression is an abomination i am using legitimate legacy my dear boy you are guilty of sophistry abominable as that expression must be it is an accurate description of your tactics excuse me douglas but the empires have taken the field we must each follow the dictates of our own conscience what on earth are you doing it's an old tricky tiger smith protects her hands good heavens man a couple of hours out there you'll stick to high heaven anyway hurry up allen will share the opening attack will lower it and he'll bowl here to fingleton we would like to describe as a fairly orthodox field up comes alan bingleton plays and there's a dive across there by arms i think it's a catch yes he's out and pringleton is out for a duck wonderful well what the heck is that smell it's revolting hey johnny leave our bloody flies alone [Applause] an unfortunate start for australia and bradman to come in in only the second over with the ball still brand new a lot will rest on the shoulders of australia's number one batsman and although this record crowd of more than fifty thousand to king to see bradman i'm certain they wouldn't have minded waiting until there were a few more runs on the board or at least many war overs had been bowled alan's starting to move in here what will raven's approach be well he plays a shot at the first one he's got it wide of the gully it's gone down to third man and dragon gets a single he's off the mark and that's the end of the over and batman will keep the strike as railroad will roll the next over and there's going to be a midwicket conference between the two batsmen i was getting a bit of bounce from this answer you watch it thanks very much [Music] now the battle between larwood and bradman continues once again who's it going to be today and this one is pitch pull up it's turning back with no leg side floor here at the moment that's a good start for australia's champion batsman now the field ready again still an orthodox one no indication of the body line field of tallest yet and its woodfall is dogged australian opener and captain to face the next ball from the champion fastball of loudwood [Music] you like to leave the field no you're sure bill i'll take your time here we go again lions one christian's milk oh hell there must be concern in the australian camp for good forced condition but he's going to back on and looks to meet mia's wife the sheep and there's jardine clapping his hands and he's called for the body line field to move in position for the first time this morning and just listen to that crowd reaction i don't believe in the boot while the man's down look at him i pack angry sharks make you feel proud to be an englishman awesome [Music] don't you think you'll ever do it and here's the first wall from la wood with the body line field that rolled rock was all waiting for a catch it's short and it's popped up and that's been locked right out of woodful's hands it's on the pictures they go through for a single before just getting over the top of the short legs but for australia's point of view wood pull is away from the strike [Music] stay down here i'll take bradman is eight australia one wicket down for 18 the runs taking about 45 minutes to get so it's a slow rate of progress by the australian team only two bowlers yes he's mrs out i i can't expect you to believe this but i should have been quite pleased to see your husband score a century today i'd sooner feel elsewhere it's all the same to you [Applause] excuse me [Applause] look something has to be done about this [Applause] you're right yes i'm all right yes it's the batsman out there we've got to worry about in this report from the adelaide people australia has made a bad start once again bing looking at duck and bradman out for only eight now mccabe and woodful are batting together against the fiery fast bowling of larwood with allen in support barwood has used the body line field this morning and woodful was struck a nasty blow earlier on but he's still out there battling for survival with the score just reaching 30 after more than an hour's play now mccabe has the strike it's been an uncharacteristic inning so far with hardly an attacking stroke this time he just fends it away it's going straight to jardine in the leg trap and another victim to the body line field the cave is out for eight australia three wickets down [Music] and the old firm of woodford and ponsford back together for australia and here's a bowling change left arm man boats is coming on in place of loud but there's no change in the field here it's still body line so both moving into both quantum and he offers no stroke not playing shotgun [Music] you see me watching two different games of cricket here we have vase with body line from one end and allen with an orthodox field from the other woodville has the strike this one is well up and it's balding clean bowl wood pulls out [Applause] [Music] well say in church [Applause] hey [Applause] [Music] my dear fellow i most sincerely regret it i don't wish to discuss it plum look there are two teams out there one of them is trying to play cricket as you all know including what do you mean by going to the australian dressing rooms in that way you have no right to go there without first consulting me you have left me in a terrible situation yes what douglas's plan was just saying it's his job to keep things running smoothly please bob do you call this smooth running you have allowed woodful the opportunity to publicly accuse me of not playing by the rules you have played right into the hands of those bloody australian journalists how do you think this is the time nor the place this is one thing to have the australian press publish lies about me it is another thing altogether to have the australian captain accuse me of not behaving in a sportsmanlike man in the heat of the moment douglas i'm sure the bill didn't mean to imply that you will behaving in non-sportsmanlike then let him say so publicly you speak i expect to read an apology in the papers tomorrow morning without fail what will you do well i shall have to do something otherwise the test series won't resume tomorrow i can't believe that bill's apologized that's playing right into jardine's hands that's just what the bastards want i've already proved they're bowling at the batsman you all saw that this is adding insult to injury apologizing to warner i was in here when warner came in vic you weren't bill didn't do any apologizing well bertie it must have been later the point is are we going to start doing something about it such as fighting back we could give them a bit of their own medicine what with tim's the only fast bowler we've got if clary and tiger and me start bowling short and fast it'll be a bloody joke they'll knock us all over the paddock i'm not having a go at you blakes you've done a great job what i'm saying is we've got to get some more fast bowlers we've got to get bill to talk to the board and the selectors what about vic about the way jardine's playing the game well i don't like it any more than you blokes then what did you apologize for apologise it's all over the front page this isn't true the last time i saw warner was on saturday in here and i certainly didn't apologize right what are you gonna do about it nothing nothing i'm not gonna dignify a lie but bill you've gotta refute it and we have to start fighting fire with fire you saw what happened on saturday i kept moving away from the wickets the balls kept coming at me bill they're bowling at our bodies without question we have to begin bowling at them we're here to play cricket and that is precisely what we're going to do you call that cricket you all right of course he's not all right i'm fine woody are you willing to stick with it look it's the choice between getting out and getting hit and prepared to wear it thanks man look i don't care for jardine's tactics either but i don't believe we should stoop to his level can you read your father's bible bill an eye for an eye but also says he who lives by the sword dies by the sword and we're in big trouble come on you blaze bert what do you say i've been playing qriket for quite a while now i've seen a lot of men get hit but it was never like this but this is deliberate as vic says but that's where i draw the line when we start going out there to hurt one another that's when i call it a day i love the game of cricket i've always loved it ever since i was a kid but i used to watch clary and dainty and birdie out there on the turf at the scg all i ever wanted to do was to play cricket for australia and wear this baggy green cap [Music] now that i've been given that honor i realize what a great responsibility it carries not to the board or the selectors but of those people out there [Music] to my teammates and most of all to this cap see we've all got a lot to live up to my parents and my wife are very proud of me and i just couldn't do anything that they would consider wrong anything that would go against what this cap stands for [Music] i'm with you bill [Music] sit down [Music] welcome to the third day of the third test here at the adelaide oval for the continuation of australia's first innings ponsford and oldfield will continue their partnership from saturday where they defied the bodyline field and the bodyline building for a long time and they're receiving enthusiastic applause from a very big crowd here despite the fact it's a monday place is filthy with coppers we've got mounted troopers out beyond the grandstand australia to bat on in the first innings at five wickets down for 131. ponsford recalled the australian team that this match must have been hit a dozen times in his courageous innings of 74 not out the keeper oldfield has given valuable support he's on 41. ponsford has the strike and we're going to take up where we left off on saturday it's body line straight away ponsford the batsman live with the bow sorry birdie there's nothing i can do to stop [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] all of my experience with cricket i've never seen anything like this what's happening out there what's happening in the dressing room what's happening to qriket between england and australia the batsman are getting hit sell off under the crowds in a very nasty move it's oldfield now to face up to low [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] what an awful scene this in all of my experience i repeat i have never seen anything like this [Music] [Music] this isn't cricket [Music] [Music] uh [Music] uh [Music] birdie's got a fractured skull the doctor said a fraction either way and he was dead what about his missus she heard it on the wireless she's on away from sydney now he's going to be all right he was a bloody tail ender [Music] the boy's still here we better have a talk mr ponsford give us a birdie as a memento thanks mate i've been thinking about the future i don't know about you blokes but it can't go on like this whatever it was that happened out there today i'm sure of one thing it wasn't cricket it's a funny thing my dad always wanted me to play cricket because he thought it was a game for gentlemen it must be breaking his heart i'm no squid mate i can take a few knocks but there's a time when courage becomes stupidity what are you saying then woody i'm saying it's my responsibility what's happened to you blokes i'm the captain it's the captain's job to ensure the welfare of his team i've led you into this there's nothing anyone could have done well i've made my decision i'm going to the control board unless they can get an assurance from the english that we've seen the last of body line and i intend to resign as captain no skipper the australian team you tell those weak bastards the australian teams reside hey vic oh come on bill you're making a mountain out of a mole but you gentlemen were there you must have been as disgusted as i was at the violence closest thing to a riot i've ever seen i didn't mean in the stands i meant on the pitch oh yes sir certainly jardine went too far the point is what are you going to do about it in fear of the fact we're down 2-1 it's a difficult situation now we don't want to be accused of squealing in my understanding of it there's nothing in the rules to stop you giving it back to the bastards that's not the solution aubry now what we propose is a meeting with pelham warner will make it very clear to him the damage that's being done to cricket itself and you know how strongly plum feels about tradition we are sure plum will bring pressure to bear it seems the best course don't you agree it's a start will you tell the boys that we have it in hand let's keep this to ourselves shall we i think the time for that's passed don't you a little more reasonable than i imagined don't underestimate him it worries me that he won't retaliate i think we're dealing with a man of principle and in my opinion they are very stubborn man we've done everything we can no one can hold us responsible for the english team it's up to them huh telegram [Music] mr warner says a telegram mr warner mr warner you very much [Music] i have no intention of contributing to your scurrilous stories oh you mean yesterday's please well anyway i'm here about the days wondering what you're going to say to the board of control you are going to the meeting for what we do a meeting the board have asked mr warner to attend uh double irish whiskey thanks snow no ice and a glass of water i haven't been asked to attend any meeting haven't you received a telegram yeah this must be it then no comment it's a terrible thing mr jardine has driven us all into a corner our own captain says it can't go on i feel very deeply for the australian team if that's any consolation what we need plum is an assurance that douglas will moderate his tactics i wish it were otherwise but that just isn't possible all we want is a return to more conventional play my dear fellow i couldn't agree with you more but the mcc captain has always dictated tactics surely the team manager has a great influence well in normal circumstances yes bloody jordan aubry please all i can say is i'll speak to you thank you let me assure you on behalf of us all none of this reflects on you if you don't mind a word of advice from an old hand i'd be looking at other avenues the board have simply asked me for a reassurance that you modify your tactics you have no right to discuss our tactics with the australians there's no need to raise your voice with me i'm just reporting what they want well you seem to be prosecuting with unusual vigor my dear chap i have made my position perfectly clear i've tried to cancel you i've asked you and you've just thrown it back in my face no surprise to me that the australians want it stopped and i must say i agree with them whatever your personal feelings you are the mcc manager need i explain to you where your loyalty lies how dare you my loyalty is not in doubt so that must settle it what do you mean well since your loyalty is not in doubt then you can go to the board on behalf of us all tell them that the mcc will use whatever tactics are best suited to winning the ashes thank you plum if you don't mind me asking is there any suggestion you can make confidentially i think you should do what your conscience dictates if you wish to pursue the matter you'll have to take it higher up warner recommends we take it to the lords that's a bloody stupid idea the last thing we want is an official brawl god knows where that is maybe so that wood pool's not going to work because he will demand that we do something the players don't run australian cricket the board does nevertheless we must keep faith with the team we're obliged to take it as far as we can look we have a business to protect we can't jeopardize the series we'd be thousands of pounds in the hole and you know where that would leave australian cricket down the dummy nobody's jeopardizing the series i suggest we draft a cable to the lords saying what your captains a cheat i can see them accepting that they'd have to support jardin in just a minute we'll draft a cable a very strong cable hear me out and we'll show it to woodfall get him to agree to the wording change it if he likes and will ask him to sign it son alan that's brilliant a protest goes to lords but it's unofficial talk about having a cake and eating it too but let's push it let's push it not just come on bradman to sign it as well on behalf of the entire team boulder bouncer hit the boundary as we suspected not much luck with warner but don't worry we've got a new strategy plum himself suggested we go above his head did he as good as so we've drafted a cable to the mcc lords read it see what you think that's good stuff unsportsmanlike you think that's a bit strong no no it's hit the nail right on the head like the point about relations between the two countries it's important to stress that it's gone beyond cricket anything you think we've missed what about something concerning the danger to players ah yes well um how's about causing intensely bitter feeling between the players as well as injury don mommy anything else so you'd be happy to sign that i should have known nobody grows a backbone overnight that's insulting that makes a 15 old i warned you months ago about this and you chose to ignore it now you want us to fight your battles no you can forget that if you don't back the team now you won't have a team are you threatening the board no i'm telling you that i'm prepared to resign as captain and the rest of the team will follow oh i see we've been caucusing have we call it what you like but cricket in australia will have three chiefs no bloody indians we'll have to consider this no outside there are a group of reporters either you go out read that cable as your response or i go out and tell them that we've been sold down the river it's your choice the board will not be dictated to i think we all know who'll get the support of the australian people our names are not going on that cable hold on audrey obviously bill and don feel very strongly about this bhagavat we're not putting the tour at risk there'd be an uproar if we accuse them of being unsportsmanlike we're not sending that as it stands it'll be an even bigger uproar if the team resigns the players haven't given us much choice you've got to quorum put it to the vote thank you for the suggestion as chairman i say we deal with it we send it i agree send it aubrey i wanted to record it in the minutes i strongly object to this ending of that cable body line bowling has assumed such proportions as to menace the best interests of the game hallelujah making protection of the body by the batsman the main consideration this is causing intensely bitter feeling between the players as well as injury in our opinion [Music] as well as injury in our opinion it is unsportsmanlike who do they think they are gone in our opinion unless stopped at once it is likely to upset the friendly relations existing between australia and england signed australian border control well you can see i wasn't overstating it when i said something of a crisis fire straight back tell them we deplore their cable let's raise the stakes they're talking about friendly relations between the two countries well if it's that bad why not suggest cancelling the tour ah that is kai boshing they've always got their noses in the ledger you don't agree oh no no i agree that's that's fine for the cable but i was thinking we might open up a second front thought we might enlist the help of the palace well after all as we've said it does affect relations between the two nations his majesty's private secretary sir clive wigram is a good friend of cricket oh you're quite right it's gone beyond a game i don't know if you've heard but uh there's talk out there of them boycotting english goods surely not it is in the war flavors refusing to unload british ships it's hysterical if you ask me but then i've never understood the mob i thought you'd be interested sir clive we've drafted a reply to their cable objecting to the word unsportsmanlike i should say sir we've offered to cancel the rest of the tour call it off as strong as that eh only if they think it's necessary i'm sure they won't well naturally it's not what we want and i'm pleased to hear that what are you looking for we want the australians to back down completely i was hoping um would it be possible for one of our people to approach the australian government uh make it clear to them how serious it would be at a government level if the cricket in ties between our two countries were severed flexor muscle eh well we can speak to ernest crutchlin head of the british mission excellent if you do that we'll send the cable good afternoon prime minister good of you to see me at short notice my pleasure after all there are not many places where an englishman would be welcome these days sit down i take it so you've seen the australian board's cable to the mcc yes i've just received a copy of the mcc's reply it seems the entire tour is now under threat and i understand it the suggestion to cancel the tour comes from the mcc quite right prime minister but of course only in response to a fairly um belligerent initiative from the australian board i'm not sure i'd describe unsportsmanlike is belligerent most australians would call it accurate i understand your position sir but the mcc has said any decision to cancel rests with the home side in their cable they say they would consent only with great reluctance certainly be a great shame after all these years of healthy rivalry and wonderful cricket exactly the sentiments of his medicines government as i see it the problem is this given that the mcc has thrown the ball back into the australian court the board may feel obliged to respond by abandoning the series what's wrong with the mcc withdrawing its cable i don't think that's possible not without the board also withdrawing theirs sounds a wonderful idea we could start from scratch there is another proposal cancelling the series would obviously affect relations between australia and england in such circumstances the prime minister could prevail upon the board to ensure that the tour continues i could it's true in return i could also ask his majesty's government to see if mr jardine won't temper his approach why i'd be happy to i'll do whatever i can we have fullest confidence in captain team and manager we have no evidence that our confidence has been misplaced we hope the situation is not now as serious as your cable would seem to indicate but if you consider it desirable to cancel remainder of program we would consent but with great reluctance they had a bloody control i said it approach the lord and it would end in a brawl aubry there's no mileage in that we're in it now we've got to deal with it no choice we've got to back down the tour must go ahead who has never been cancelled not in the history of cricket i'm not convinced we should rush in we have commitments contractual commitments two-thirds of our incomes from test cricket pretty humiliating for them if their team was sent packing it could be a try on we might make a conciliatory gesture but keep the future of the tour open jesus they might meet us halfway get charging to make some concession ellen you're pissing in the wind leave this cable we have the fullest confidence in captain team and manager we are convinced they will do nothing to infringe either the laws of cricket or the stone phone call dr robertson i said no interruptions it's the prime minister sir robertson prime minister ah sorry to worry you i'm sure you got enough on your plate no don't you know why i'm calling i've just seen the mcc's cable we were just considering it now i know you're in a difficult position but the government believes that any cancellation of the tour could have serious consequences there are larger issues at stake for a start the relationship between australia and the mother country certainly sir the board wouldn't wish to do anything that might embarrass the government good if it's any help i've asked this majesty's government to see if they can influence mr jardine thank you sir very decent of you not at all let's hope it has some effect we'll leave this happening shall we yes prime minister thank you goodbye that's it then i'll draft a reply tell them we don't consider it necessary to cancel [Music] notice a word please plum yes go ahead in private if you would i'm sure gaby and bob will keep confidence very well i warn you you might find it embarrassing please sit down i have just had a call from ernest crutchley head of the british mission yes he tells me the australians aren't going to back down the series will be resumed wonderful well done and he has asked that you temper your approach oh has he now and is mr crutchley conversant with the laws of cricket my dear fellow he is a representative of his majesty's governments you can't dismiss him as easily as you do me and this is an official approach on behalf of the government not exactly it's the result of discussions with the australian prime minister uh so he has approached you at the behest of the australians how can you say that how can you be so ignorant the man is concerned with international relations with the image of our country abroad how can you be so gullible the australians are trying everything they were so certain of victory now faced with defeat they cry foul for the last time you were being asked to stop and for the last time no in that case i order you on whose authority mr warner won't be joining us one day i trust you'll see the tragedy of this everything that our country cherishes is being destroyed honor duty cricket itself well whatever happens old boy it's on your head i wash my hands a bit i'm sorry i've lost my appetite [Music] we the australian board of control appreciate your difficulty in dealing with the matter raised in our cable without having seen the actual play we unanimously regard bodyline bowling as adopted in some games of the present tour as being opposed to the spirit of cricket and unnecessarily dangerous to players we are deeply concerned that the ideals of the game shall be protected and therefore appoint a subcommittee to report on action necessary to eliminate such bowling from all cricket in australia from the beginning of next season we'll forward copy of committee's recommendation for your consideration and hope for cooperation in application to all cricket we do not consider it necessary to cancel i think the whole text of the cable is conciliatory they've learned their lesson i'm quite satisfied yes i agree let's say we leave the matter there and get on with the game hmm have you seen this it's the text of the australian cable they say we regard bodyline bowling as being opposed to the spirit of cricket and unnecessarily dangerous to players well and they haven't even withdrawn the word unsportsmanlike yes i know well what are you going to do about it i've told you all boy i wash my hands of it while that word remains on the record this tour cannot continue i refuse to listen well perhaps you'll listen to the team i want to see the team in the bar immediately you all right [Music] i'm sorry to interrupt i'd like to see you two in the bar you said all right right skipper do the perfect timing as usual excuse us oh i'm sorry wrong [Music] i apologize as they are but we have reached a point where decisions have to be made it's not necessary for me to detail the bitterness that our tactics have caused both on and off the field mr warner and i hold sharply opposing viewers and earlier this evening this led to harsh words i would like to make it clear that i take full responsibility for the use of leg theory it is the captain's prerogative to determine tactics but i believe that the situation now demands that the team should have their say for my part i'm sure the tour would be a happier one if we abandoned this approach but i don't believe that we could win the ashes if the team support the use of leg theory there remains one obstacle the word unsportsmanlike i have learned that this accusation leveled against us all remains on the record i do not intend to continue the series unless it is retracted it is a slur on our honor our prestige and our country others may not think this and if this is the case then i shall stand down as captain and withdraw from the team i shall leave the room if you wish i'm a much better bowler than i am speaker [Music] we'll have to go the train leaves in 10 minutes are we playing or not i'm not sure yet well let's plan that i've spoken to the board they're sending a cable today the word will be withdrawn what will be withdrawn what will be withdrawn the australian have collapsed they've retracted the word unsportsmanlike got it from warner himself i've got some bad news fellas the board's withdrawn its accusations what they reneged they withdrawn the word unsportsmanlike bastards we're back to square one i'm sorry fellas how could they be so stupid i got a kangaroo loose in the top paddock that's how so we conned in the gain of brisbane why should we be target practice for that madmen there's not a rule in the book to protect us time you made our own rules we've been that route before i'm saying this for the last time we won't dignify bodyline by retaliation what's the alternative well after all that's happened after the board the lords even our own government have abandoned us after this outrage to cricket i reckon we're within our rights to resign you mean threatened to resign i mean we don't walk out on that pitch tomorrow you sure about that bill well i can't let you walk out there after all the hits you've taken not with birdie lying in a hospital with a cracked skull there's no choice yes there is bill there is a choice same choice that all the battlers have the copper's suite stands right that's what built this country going out against all the odds and giving it your best our families came out here as convicts settlers with nowhere else to go they didn't shrink from the impossible they went to places where they had bastard and been before they forged a nation that's what took them to the shores of gallipoli somewhere out there they taught us about courage about loyalty to your mates and about being australian bill if we go out there do our best and play it straight we'll be the blokes who stood up against bodyline but if we don't go out on that pitch tomorrow we're going to be remembered as the blokes who quit we're the only boats that can do anything about body line a place to do what's out there in the picture i'd say we bat like we've never batted before dawn's right [Music] let's do it i'm speaking to you from brisbane for the broadcast of the fourth test between england and australia england leads 2-1 in the series and this match therefore could decide the ashes it's very hot and humid here in brisbane the temperature now is in the high 90s the forecast maximum is 106 degrees the most controversial test series ever should england will now have taken an unbelievable lead in the best of five series through australia the situation is quite simple but how hot it is no matter what tactics are adopted by jrd they must win this match tips no speeches i know it's hot but it's just as bad for the australian investment good luck thank you and get dropped if we're going to win ashes i won't be out there i will wouldn't worry about that he'd make you play even if you lost an arm and leg [Applause] [Applause] [Music] this one's for burning [Applause] your diary notes today prime minister australian crowds have really turned against jardine and england and now hashes would fall about to take strike for the first ball of the fourth test the ashes in the balance lowered moving into bowl and that's pulled away nicely by woodville getting down towards the boundary they're running quickly between wickets looking to run see if they can they take in the second go take one on the throw that's three off the first ball [Applause] now barwood two richardson short and hooked by richardson great shot that's getting out towards the boundary no leg side field at the moment but that's going to be the first war of the innings a good aggressive start by the australian opening [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] forget the bloody heat watch the ball [Music] now go into richardson and it's pulled through the onside field once again that's a great stroke and that takes australia up to 50 and we haven't seen too many half century opening stands in this series is in your bowl faster all right right wickets is dead as a door now and getting no bounce try harder not a good day for fast bowlers on this easy paced pitch jardine fielding in the gully and lower richardson he cuts that's gone straight to jardine and he's dropped the catch daddy of all peoples and put down a fairly simple chance i'm a lucky bastard and now jardine retaliates by calling in the onside field it's going to be body line the crowd doesn't like this at all those are coming out now as those fields that's not a good now richardson is taking stride [Applause] starting to run comes up past the empire short and richardson struck a nasty flow in the midriff [Music] reactions [Music] [Music] later continue now after i have almost five minutes allow it in the simmering atmosphere to run into bowl through richardson and this one is short he hooks a beautiful shot and wyatt in the leg cap had to duck the cover almost took his head wood full off 50 australia at no wicket for 133 the best opening stand of the series so far and in this easy paced pitch have the australian batsman found the answer to bodyville the australian opening pair richardson and woodful have taken the score well over the 100 mark and here's a bowling change the medium pacer hammond becoming the attack with richardson taking a strike hammond bowled bridgeton forward he's beaten names whips the bales up and appeal for stopping and he's out richardson out for 83. that runs out yeah but bastard's never [Applause] changed good this must be the greatest chance your host will be late gets a hero's welcome [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] badminton hooks that's through the field it's not perfectly timed we might get for a chase there for painter but the ball will just win little surprise in there rather than gets four of his first ball later he should have got that one this could be four again rather than batting now without a cap a sure sign that he's growing in confidence [Applause] [Music] that's through the field and robin has gone up to 50 and australia has reached 200 with a loss of only one wicket this is the first day i can remember when you haven't taken a wicket ah well things would be a sight different for all the catches world we all have to do better now woodful has the strike and we haven't seen much of him since uh bradman came to the wickets but woodford as ever playing a very patient innings he has 67 knot out woodville goes forward and he's beaten and he's bold yes he's out woodville is out for 67 in australia two for 200 and the new batsman will be mccabe [Applause] a typical hook shot from the cave that's getting out towards the boundary a long chase again for painter but he won't get this one peter [Music] painter has collapsed on the meal he they don't put him under the shower pull him down i need him back as quick as you can with the composition of england's team hammond caught a lot of bowing today and he's coming in now it's no good mate you've got a temperature monica says 103. that's normal for me it looks like tonsillitis [Music] yes you will immediately you get out the field what will mr jardine say never you mind about that i'll handle mr jardine paint has gone well he's gone to the hospital well who's authority mine the boy's ill good god i need every man i can't guess what you're interested in thompson he's out for the match he didn't tell me you wanted to play whilst only we're all out 340 at that table a little disappointing after the very good start richardson top score with 83 rather made 76 gold by larwood and a century stand for england by jardin and jardine batting a long long time for his 46 he's going very slowly indeed and he plays forward and it's got an edge and contrary to keep the love and appeal to put behind and john dean is [Applause] out [Music] [Applause] england are three for 165. [Applause] he goes back he's hit on the path of the field to leg before could he be out yes the um a very worried man i must speak to him eddie we're in trouble 496. he's going to leave this one here i need a good batsman even a sick we're watching o'reilly coming now to boulder allen o'reilly comes up bold allen plays four gets an edge and goes behind to the keeper loud yes an appeal and he's out being put behind and the for six-week all of this [Applause] all right [Applause] you want to run already no thank you take a chance [Music] there's absolute silence here at the brisbane ground as eddie painter this brave little left-hander from lancashire gets ready to face the bowling of the spinner iron manga [Music] i'll get this pummy all right and that's ribbon through the offside field to be runs here to tango they've taken the first pagan not running all that clearly but they'll come back for a second run and painter has scored straight away for england [Applause] why is peter playing oh we need him hi what did the doctor say i don't know i didn't talk to him now steady be when you ordered him don't you realize he's here his health is aggressive his painter's decision i know you can't understand this but he has the sort of spirit that i admire the spirits of a man i do fellow i'm talking about one of our team members not marathon runners damn it plum so am i for the first ten miles a marathon runner runs on his training for the second ten he survives on his stamina for the last six his body metabolizes he's very sinus it's an onslaught of pain but he runs on his spirit that's what courage is that's what makes a champion need i remind you as captain you are responsible for his well-being don't you tell me about my responsibilities when i was a child i learned nothing of value comes by luck it's won by pain and sacrifice that is why i have become captain of england that is why i'm here god knows why you are i am here to try and curb your excesses excesses it will only appear excessive to a man of weakness not we culture sane [Applause] right [Music] you're all right lad all this running it'll finish me let's forget singles i'll try for boundaries all right eddie [Music] and he's jumped out and hit that right over mid on a beautiful shot that gave me up to the boundary any trainer obviously can you run bravely or not at all and that's through the field again this could be four more to painter eddie painter now the hero of this brisbane crowd [Applause] england all out for 356 in the first innings a leader of 16 with painter and magnificent 83 a truly heroic performance in the second innings it's woodville taking striker he pulls his minutes gone straight out the backwood square hammond takes the catch and woodpool is out and it's a bad start for australia [Applause] so [Music] [Applause] that's it that's the last week in australia all out for mediocre 175. once again the australian batsmen have been disappointing they've failed and england needs only 159 to win what must england's team be feeling right now 159 to win the match the series and also the ashos and that's turned nicely towards square egg by satellite if you'll get a single layer and england's bathroom going along quite confidently here it's not a big target they've got and that is batting very freely indeed england before gets down and painted out his familiar white hat batting out there with ames painting the hero of england's first innings he came out of a hospital bed with tonsillitis to bat for four hours for his total of 83 surely one of the greatest innings ever played and how appropriate it would be if eddie painter is still there at the end to score the winning hit in its place in history this fourth test in brisbane must be remembered as eddie painter's match [Music] hater completes the second run in england goes into the 150s it's just nine runs to win [Music] it's played back past the bottle this will be two runs here and that will make it seven to go right let's play through the offside field at four for one they've turned at the end of the map they're coming back to the second and only five runs now between england and victor now will it be painted to make the winning headers down over there that's a magnificent shot and it's going right over the top over the boundary for six and england has won the match and won the ashes [Applause] [Music] well i'll chat you won i wish i could find it in my heart to congratulate you congratulations you accused me of weakness well let me just say this to you while it remains in my power i will try to ensure that you'll never captain england again the damage you have wrought these past few months is irreparable you have perverted a noble game it's spirit and tradition i have no doubt that history will remember you as a man who stooped to conquer well history has already forgotten you congratulations douglas plum ah thank you rory i think it's time we joined the others reaches forever [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] ambition all of our ambitions [Music] yes i can't really say i thought he'd do it not against graven not only bradman the australian cricket board the crowds god knows what else not many men could have fought them all and won he can be ruthless but that there's no doubt well he had to be anyway despite all the troubles it's over now you think so you really think that's the last we'll see of uh body life i certainly hope so surely he wouldn't could god that would be lunacy his one [Music] hmm [Music] [Music] i can't ball finish the overhaul don't give up i can't run you can do anything if you want it badly enough the crowd wants to see you broken don't give them that pleasure finish it harold [Music] so over here [Music] so [Music] oh [Music] i'm proud of you [Music] my [Music] mr prime minister mr woodford now that it's over you should be proud you should all be proud you played magnificently to me it's irrelevant who won the ashes it's more important how you played and you showed great dignity in the face of great provocation great spirit in the face of defeat great courage in the face of fear they are qualities that have taken us as australians through the worst of times for so long a sport is played in this land of ours your names will conjure pride the hearts of all australians [Music] [Music] but surely plum has team manager for five months i counseled him i argued with him and finally i ordered him a little effect he told me that i had been a great cricketer in my day but that my day was passed [Music] i'm sorry martin but for me this was victory without honor if you'll excuse me i translate [Music] welcome home come in you must feel very proud you did it only just the little man was good bloody good it's the finest batman the world's ever seen whatever will do you remember what percy said imagine how history will judge the man who beats bradman well if i had to guess i'd say harshly oh douglas that sounds like regret well if i had my time over there are things i'd do differently but you won no i didn't mean just on the field but douglas you can never go back all things change i had hoped we'd grow together but we've grown apart do you blame me i don't blame anyone i've been offered a position in palestine i've decided to take it so i suppose this is goodbye that was the last time i ever saw him and though he didn't know it then douglas ii would become a victim of the strategy which he had authored that summer bodyline was used for the first time in england for the minute lords the armchair generals the site of war was a chastening experience the mcc can't condone this sort of play i'm afraid you'll have to apologize apologize who too the australians i did what i was told you were there mr warner for the sake of cricket harold and for douglas where it began was where it would end in 1934 he captained the mcc team to india he bowled body line and needless to say he was winning but there were protests cables riots knowing this time the lords would order him to stop he resigned the captaincy later that year they outlawed bodyline douglas never played for england again when war broke out he was among the first to join dropped behind enemy lines he served his country with distinction and in that most terrible time i like to think that he discovered what empire was truly about as for harold larwood he never played cricket for england again in 1951 he and his family migrated to australia at the age of 28 donald george bradman became captain of australia a post in which he served from 1936 until his retirement in 1948. the following year he was knighted for his services to cricket douglas jardine a son of the raj died of cancer on june 18 1958 he was cremated and the ashes scattered over the glens and locks of scotland even now on a summer's afternoon when i hear the sound of baton ball i cannot help but think of him

Channel: Yellow and Black

Views: 3,794

Rating: 4.8048782 out of 5

Keywords: Ashes, Australia, England, Cricket, Bodyline, Don Bradman, Aussie TV, 1980s, ashes lyrics, ashes tiktok, English cricket team, fast leg theory bowling, Douglas Jardine, Bert Oldfield skull fractured., Gary Sweet, Hugo Weaving, Harold Larwood, Pelham Warner, Frank Thring, Sydney Cricket Ground, Marylebone Cricket Club, Gubby Allen, Bob Wyatt, Freddie Brown, Nawab of Pataudi, Wally Hammond, bill woodfull, adelaide oval, melbourne cricket ground, melbourne cricket club

Id: A-3MkGh096E

Length: 308min 13sec (18493 seconds)

Published: Tue May 18 2021

Reddit Comments

[u/insty1]

Which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard.

[u/mridal]

I enjoyed this series a lot although I am not sure whether it was over dramatised or not. But I was hooked into it. I loved Hugo Weaving as Jardine. He has that subtle evilness in his acting in this series.

[u/SamosaSambusek]

I’ve watched this miniseries in my mid to late teens a very long time ago in the mid to late 80s when Doordarshan India premiered it and used to run the episodes on Sunday nights. An interesting dramatized version of the Bodyline series.

Seems like ages ago and back then in India, Doordarshan was the only game in town when it came to TV broadcast so you pretty much watched whatever came on it.