Bodyline Reminders, Lord’s, Day 2
By Bernard Whimpress
Watching a bit of the Australian short bowling barrage last night reminded me of how boring it must’ve been to observe Bodyline. But England’s batting was just crazy, and they’ve compounded their mindless approach with stupid responses I’ve drawn from reading Cricinfo today.
When Ollie Pope made one brilliant square cut off a short ball from Starc backing away to the leg-side I wondered whether this was how Bradman batted against Bodyline. It’s not generally remembered that Bradman had many critics at the time for his ‘flimsy’ approach. Yes, we know Jardine thought he was susceptible to the short ball but it wasn’t until after his death that it was revealed that English amateur ‘Gubby’ Allen had described him in correspondence him as gutless. Much of the criticism of Bradman at the time came from his teammates and sections of the Australian media but I’m sure he didn’t get out to crazy hooks in the air. Pope really looked like a guy who’d lost his nerve and Duckett was playing in an equally frantic manner. Duckett says he has no regrets about his dismissal for 98. I always thought a 100 at Lord’s in an Ashes Test was supposed to be the ultimate batting crown. Not, it seems, for this clown.
Steve Smith, of course, does value making 100s. I know he has a strange personality but the fact that he never knows where his bat handle is when dismissed no matter how many runs he makes continues to annoy me. At least he raised his bat and seemed to acknowledge the crowd near the pavilion gate as he was leaving but still carried it like a piece of 4×2 all the way through the Long Room and into the dressing room. In my view he brings the game into disrepute and thousands of cricketers at lower levels of the game adopt the same ugly mannerism.
And now a few words on the bumper barrage.
There was a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth after Phil Hughes’s death, deep research into the history of deaths in cricket worldwide, much discussion of improved helmet design to protect the neck, and there are supposed laws against intimidatory bowling. When Steve Smith was struck by Joffra Archer in this corresponding Test four years ago there was fresh wailing and the blow which forced Smith’s removal from the match must have been a mere fraction away from the strike that killed Hughes. Yet I see no improvement in helmets and little action by the umpires. In the last couple of Ashes series Starc and Cummins of the Australians have continually peppered the English tail with short balls – sometimes complete overs – and Stokes (when fit) has certainly dispensed the short stuff for England. In the previous Edgbaston Test Broad and Robinson continually bowled short at Cummins and Lyon with the second new ball, a tactic that backfired. I don’t want to cancel bouncers as a part of the quick bowlers’ attack but two per over should be the maximum.
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About Bernard Whimpress
Freelance historian (mainly sport) who has just written his 40th book. Will accept writing commissions with reasonable pay. Among his most recent books are George Giffen: A Biography, The Towns: 100 Years of Glory 1919-2018, Joe Darling: Cricketer, Farmer, Politician and Family Man (with Graeme Ryan) and The MCC Official Ashes Treasures (5th edition).
Excellent observations Bernard, nailed it to a T!
I’ve enjoyed watching the series so far, the English with the belief ‘Bazball’ was to be their means of regaining the Ashes while the Aussies just pounded away with tight, at times aggressive, good honest test match cricket to blunt the hopes of the Poms. There appears to be no plan B with them.
Interesting observations Bernard. Bazball is certainly entertaining but it’s easy to get carried away and be over aggressive, getting themselves out with, at times, silly shots. Against good bowling, this style of batting is bound to come unstuck as the Poms are finding out. Somehow I don’t believe Mr Boycott would approve of it. I strongly suspect there will be a few more twists and turns in this match. PS it was great to see Head pick up a couple of wickets.
Cheers JTH, Colin, Fisho
I think Stokes had a plan for a long innings (17 off 58 balls) overnight but then was done by a good ball from Starc – the only genuine dismissal.
More boring bodyline stuff tonight. Ursnan and Smith got themselves out playing at balls they should not have played. There can be no doubt it will be on again when the Poms bat.
If this is the bowling component of Bazball it makes for arduous viewing. Fast mediums bowling non stop short pitched stuff hoping the batsmen mistime a shot to players situated in the outfield, as some did.
The ‘real’ Bodyline of the Jardine era, 1932-33, had close in fielders on the leg side as batsmen scrambled to defend themselves, fearful lest a catch gets popped up. The Windies sides of Lloyd, Richards, had plenty of catchers on the off side as the batsmen tried to survive the pace onslaught. In both cases the attacks were a lot quicker than what England is now providing. This current incarnation is more a defensive, than an attacking ,way of restricting the scoring and in the process hoping to pick up wickets.
I’ll leave my response to Mitchell Starc’s ‘ non catch’ to myself. Hopefully it doesn’t alter the result, just the margin.
Day five coming up. England lucky not to start play five down. Let’s see how Australia bowls. We can be sure of two things: No Nathan Lyon, and our pace bowlers are faster than England’s. Hopefully 2-0 later tonight.
Glen!
I enjoyed reading this piece, Bernard, and agreed with virtually all your observations, except for some bits concerning Steve Smith. I think sublimely gifted eccentrics such as SPDS add something interesting to the sport, and I don’t mind if he exits the ground pretending to be on a pogo stick, as long as he keeps averaging around sixty!
Thanks Glen and Kevin
Glen
I’m well aware of the 1932-33 Bodyline fields but Starc and Cummins have frequently bowled this sort of stuff – complete overs of bouncers over the last four years and targeted Woakes and Broad in particular. Green also bowled some complete overs of short stuff in the first innings and both Broad and Green have been struck on the helmet. My point is that the bowling is ugly and destroys the aesthetic elements of cricket – a major criticism of the original Bodyline. I went to the movies last night and saw the latest Indiana Jones but when I got home about four overs (including the Carey dismissal) was enough for me. The great West Indies quicks bowled lots of short balls but not complete overs. However, intimidatory bowling is defined these days is in quick need of definition and reinterpretation.
Kevin
We’ll have to disagree on Smith. I won’t applaud any batsman (even if he makes a hundred) if the walks off carrying the bat like a lump of wood.
Excuse some bad punctuation in the above.
Good heavens Bernard, you missed one of the all time great innings as Stokes set about bazball after the dismissal of Bairstow. An amazing over of short stuff from Green was smashed all over the park and included 3 successive sixes. It was truly amazing stuff and a sheer delight to watch. Bairstow’s dismissal triggered Stokes’ answer. Thankfully Australia won setting up a most interesting 3rd test.
Bernard agree with everything bar Steve Smith bit no problem personally with that whatsoever
( suggest re your Facebook post copying the link and including ) thank you
This bodyline light must be stopped.
Who would allow their children to play a game that allows such play?
The captains should, under the spirit of the game, to simply not use it.
Read the views of the 1934 editor of Wisden to see that it was acknowledged 90 years ago how dangerous, to the game, this abomination would be to cricket.
I turn the TV off when ever it is deployed. I have booed that Kiwi who bowls it all the time. I have booed the Aussies when they employ it.
The whole idea of bodyline is to make scoring very difficult. It is the fielding positions that ruin the game..
Interesting article. If a week is a long time in football it’s an eternity in Test Match cricket.
Methinks a fair bit of the Lords crowd, the Longroom patrons and some of of the English team have brought test cricket into disrepute rather than the idiosyncratic actions of Steve Smith.
Goodness, so much has been said,and so much more can be said, re the legitimate dismissal of Johnny Bairstow. According to the rules of cricket he was out, as would have been Marnus Labuschagne if Bairstow’s attempt earlier in the match had have succeeded.
We may recall a few years prior when current England coach Brendan McCullum ran out Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan in not totally dis-similar circumstances: no mention of boycotting post series beers then. Ditto: Nor can we forget in 2022 when New Zealand’s Colin De Grandhomme was run out at Lords by Ollie Pope in a case not a million miles different to the Bairstow dismissal.
I was at the MCG in March 1979 when Pakistan’s Javed Miandad ran out Rodney Hogg in controversial circumstances. Hogg had blocked a no ball, walked out of his crease to do some gardening, when Miandad threw down the stumps, and appealed. Hogg was out. Pakistan captain Mushtaq Mohamed recalled Hogg but the umpires over ruled him as Hogg was out as per the rules of cricket: Johnny Bairstow the same.
Way back in 1882 WG Grace ran out Australia’s Samy Jones when Jones thinking the ball was dead went to pat down the pitch. As with the other cases cited here Jones was out.
I will keep my emotions in place, just mentioning some facts. As a great leader once said ‘facts are stubborn things’. Johnny Bairstow was out according to the rules, and the spirit of cricket talks of accepting the umpires decision, something England and a controversy chasing media seemingly have no interest in. We are now 2-0 up, time to stay in front, hopefully having our first series win in England since 2001.
Glen!
Enjoyed these reflections, Bernard.
Thanks.
Personally I cannot understand the English ‘s animosity against Carey. Surely Mr Bear’stoe is the fellow that should be wearing the dunce’s cap for his brain fade that could have quite easily went a long way to losing the test.