The Bodyline Hypocrisy Conversations with Harold Larwood

by Arnold, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781909178458
• ISBN10: 1909178454
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-07-01
• Publisher: Pitch Publishing

Summary

This fresh analysis of the England–Australia "Bodyline Controversy" of 1932-33 uncovers hypocrisy on both sides of the furore, drawing on exclusive interviews with English "villain of the piece" (and Australian émigré) Harold Larwood. At the time, Australia was a young, isolated country where sport was a religion, winning essential, and the media prone to distortion. In England, the MCC was pressurised by a British government fearing trade repercussions, leaving Harold Larwood and Douglas Jardine to be hung out to dry on a clothes-line of political expediency. The Bodyline Hypocrisy analyzes the influence of Australian culture on events, and on exaggerations and distortions previously accepted as fact. It reveals that the MCC granted Honorary Membership to Larwood in 1949, influenced by its Australian president. And now even Ian Chappell has stated that Jardine's leg-theory tactic was simply playing Test cricket with whatever weapons were available. Times change and the truth emerges.

Author Biography

Michael Arnold is the author of the acclaimed The Sacrifice of Singapore: Churchill's Biggest Blunder. The lifelong cricket enthusiast was born in England but has lived in Australia for over 30 years. An avid researcher and amateur historian, Michael was for many years the Australian correspondent for the Hampshire Cricket Society.