Bodyline

7.7
1984

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in Australian and worldwide cricketing history for the fact that the English team (headed by captain Douglas Jardine) applied a bowling technique called "leg theory", or more commonly, Bodyline. This technique involved bowlers bowling the ball directly at the batsman's body, and resulted in many of the Australian team receiving numerous bruises and injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield sustaining a cracked skull. The series generated much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia and seriously damaged Anglo-Australian cricketing relations at the time.

Seasons

7 Episodes • Premiered 1984

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 1: Empire

1. Empire

Douglas Jardine is introduced at his 9th birthday in Bombay, Lord Harris explains the significance of the soon to be famous Harlequin cap, and his parents bid him an emotional farewell as he departs to be educated in England, first at Horris Hill School later at Winchester College. Andrew Lane teaches the young Jardine that cricket is a thinking mans game 'you don't bowl a batsmen out, you think him out'. Jardine emerges from WW1 tall and athletic, reserved and determined, this determination attracts interest from Percy Fender (Surrey Captain) who is impressed with Jardine's captaincy. Meanwhile a young Harold Larwood is introduced bowling for money at the coal mine where he works and in Australia a certain Don Bradman is selected first for New South Wales and then in 1928 for Australia during Jardine's first tour down under.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 2: On Debut

2. On Debut

Australia lose the second test in Sydney after dropping Don Bradman from the team. Onto Melbourne for the third test match and Bradman is recalled to the Australian team scoring freely all around the wicket to make his maiden test century becoming the youngest player to score a test century aged 20. England go on to win the series 4-1. The Australian test side arrived in England in the middle of the great depression of 1930, Bradman dominates the English bowling throughout the series breaking record after record as Douglas Jardine predicted, the Ashes are regained by Australia. Lord Harris plots and schemes behind the scenes to manipulate Percy Fender into resigning the Surrey captaincy much to the disgust of the young Jardine who replaces him.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 3: Episode 3

3. Episode 3

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in Australian and worldwide cricketing history for the fact that the English team (headed by captain Douglas Jardine) applied a bowling technique called "leg theory", or more commonly, Bodyline. This technique involved bowlers bowling the ball directly at the batsman's body, and resulted in many of the Australian team receiving numerous bruises and injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield sustaining a cracked skull. The series generated much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia and seriously damaged Anglo-Australian cricketing relations at the time.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 4: Episode 4

4. Episode 4

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in Australian and worldwide cricketing history for the fact that the English team (headed by captain Douglas Jardine) applied a bowling technique called "leg theory", or more commonly, Bodyline. This technique involved bowlers bowling the ball directly at the batsman's body, and resulted in many of the Australian team receiving numerous bruises and injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield sustaining a cracked skull. The series generated much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia and seriously damaged Anglo-Australian cricketing relations at the time.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 5: Episode 5

5. Episode 5

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in Australian and worldwide cricketing history for the fact that the English team (headed by captain Douglas Jardine) applied a bowling technique called "leg theory", or more commonly, Bodyline. This technique involved bowlers bowling the ball directly at the batsman's body, and resulted in many of the Australian team receiving numerous bruises and injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield sustaining a cracked skull. The series generated much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia and seriously damaged Anglo-Australian cricketing relations at the time.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 6: Episode 6

6. Episode 6

Dramatization of the 1932/33 Test cricket series between England and Australia. Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in Australian and worldwide cricketing history for the fact that the English team (headed by captain Douglas Jardine) applied a bowling technique called "leg theory", or more commonly, Bodyline. This technique involved bowlers bowling the ball directly at the batsman's body, and resulted in many of the Australian team receiving numerous bruises and injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield sustaining a cracked skull. The series generated much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia and seriously damaged Anglo-Australian cricketing relations at the time.

Still image for Bodyline season 1 episode 7: Episode 7

7. Episode 7

Cast

Photo of Hugo Weaving

Hugo Weaving

Douglas Jardine

Photo of Gary Sweet

Gary Sweet

Donald Bradman

Photo of Jim Holt

Jim Holt

Harold Larwood

Photo of Rhys McConnochie

Rhys McConnochie

Pelham Warner

Photo of John Gregg

John Gregg

Percy George Fender

Photo of Frank Thring

Frank Thring

Lord Harris

Photo of Max Cullen

Max Cullen

Clive 'Chooka' Cooper (Reporter)

Photo of John Walton

John Walton

Bill Woodfull

Photo of Ashok Banthia

Ashok Banthia

Nawab of Pataudi

Photo of Alan David Lee

Alan David Lee

Eddie Paynter

Photo of Bill Young

Bill Young

Bill Bowes

Photo of Arthur Dignam

Arthur Dignam

Mr. Jardine

Photo of Jane Harders

Jane Harders

Mrs. Jardine

Photo of John Clayton

John Clayton

Mr. Bradman

Photo of Julie Nihill

Julie Nihill

Jessie Bradman

Photo of Vincent Ball

Vincent Ball

Joseph Lyons (Prime Minister)

Photo of Peter Gwynne

Peter Gwynne

Aubrey Oxlade

Photo of Peter Whitford

Peter Whitford

Dr. Allen Robertson

More Like This

Reviews

No reviews available yet.