Since its first known game in the year 1706, cricket has undergone plethora of transformations, reinventing itself and constantly evolving. The changes range from bowlers pitching the ball instead of rolling after 1960s, (which was reciprocated with changes in bat design from a hockey-stick shaped bat to straighter ones) to the introduction of 'power surge' and 'Bash boost' in the Big Bash league'21. Though they have their own importance in the evolution of the game, a tactic/event/controversy has withstood the test of time even after 90 years ;causing strain in multilateral relations, vandalism, shunning of immigrants, and business loss during its occurrence and, consequently ,changed the way the game was seen previously.
The body line or the fast leg theory was introduced in 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia by English, spearheaded by Harold Larwood, to predominantly contain the adept batting skills of the Australian star batsman Sir Don Bradman(with a batting average of around 100). In the earlier Ashes Australia tour of England(1930), Bradman scored 974 runs with an a batting average of 139.14 runs, an aggregate record that still stands to this day. To put an end to the Bradman's batting spree, the English cricket team decided to devise particular tactics to curtail him in his own Australian pitch. They initially thought he was vulnerable to leg spin, while later the English skipper Douglas Jardine noticed through a video tape that he had high discomfort in playing deliveries which bounced higher than usual at a faster pace particularly on the legside, being seen to consistently step back out of the line of the ball. As a result, a new type of leg theory bowling was born. ’The Bodyline’.
Leg theory
The leg theory, a precursor to the bodyline, is bowling in the line of attack-aims to cramp the batsman, making him play the ball with the bat close to the body. Before the 5-4(on-off side) restrictions were introduced, were any number of fielders can be placed on the ON-side, this tactic did wonders. For a leg theory spin ball, the concentration of fielders on the On-side made it difficult for the batsman to defend anywhere other than the On-side. As a result, being caught/trapped on the leg side was very common and seldom runs were made. This theory is still prevalent among leg spinners and is risky when bowled to skilful, patient and conservative batsman.
Bodyline-the art and the artists
Bodyline, the faster version of leg theory, involves tossing the cricket ball not only at the batsman's leg stump but also at the batsman's body. The batsman would be forced to hook or pull and most likely be caught at square leg or on the deep back side boundary. If defended it could go to a fielder standing close. Almost every fielder was on the leg side, with as many as six fielders in close proximity scoring runs became uphill. The third option was for the batsman to be struck by the ball and injured. There were no helmets or protective gear other than gloves and pads are worn at the time.
Surprisingly during the 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia, The bodyline worked not only against Don Bradman but also against several other Australian players. Harold Jarwood,The star English bowler,fastest bowler of his generation and the prime executioner of Bodyline went on to take 33 wickets at an average of 19.51 with less than 3 runs per over. He got Bradman in four of his eight innings. Bradman's test average buckled to 56.57, the lowest of his career. In the later part of the series Jarwood’s bowling became extremely ferocious ,which physically injured the Aussies.The Aussie skipper, Bill Woodfull was struck by Jarwood’s thunderbolt on chest and Bert Oldfield, the wicketkeeper, was sustained a skull fracture by a bouncer. The English cricket won the series 4-1 and the series became forever etched in history as ‘The Bodyline series’.
Consequences outside the game
Outside of the sport, there were repercussions for Anglo-Australian relations due to the series, which remained tense until World War II compelled cooperation. As inhabitants of each country avoided goods manufactured in the other, business between the two countries suffered drastically. The English immigrants in Australia were shunned and visitors in both the countries were persecuted by the locals. Several statues of English Royal family were vandalised and numerous satirical cartoons and skits were made mostly in Australia. Surprisingly, after the second world war(1946-48), Australian team captained by Don Bradman was first among the teams to extensively use short pitched bodyline bowling.
Rules that made bodyline less effective
Bodyline bowling is still allowed and equally challenging to play and is regarded a legitimate bowling strategy when employed sparingly. But, Several Cricket Laws have been amended throughout time to make the bodyline tactic less effective. The rules include 5-4 fielding restriction(On-off),only two bouncers per over in Tests ,one per over in one-day internationals, and one per over in Twenty - 20 internationals and Law 41 of ICC rule book to suspend bowler for intimidatory short balls.
Bodyline in recent times-India tour of Australia(Jan 2021)
The India tour of Australia(Jan 2021) ,especially the Brisbane test, saw several bodylines from Australian bowlers. The thunderbolts were targeted specifically to Chateswar pujara from Pat Cummins, Josh Hazzlewood and Mitchell starc. During that innings, Pujara copped a total of 11 blows on his body, and was hit multiple times on the head, hand and abdomen. Yet his gritty batting at Brisbane Test was in a different league and was instrumental in taking India to a win.
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