Book Review: The Bodyline Hypocrisy - conversations with Harold Larwood by Michael Arnold

Over many years of reading cricket books, I must be well into double figures on those relating to the infamous 'Bodyline' tour of Australia by England in 1932-33.

A recurring theme of such books is the vilification of England captain Douglas Jardine and his weapon of choice Harold Larwood, the latter aided and abetted by his Nottinghamshire team mate Bill Voce. The two of them became anti-heroes, abused by the supporters at games for their use of intimidatory tactics in order to beat Australia on their own turf. Focal point of the attack was Australian wunderkind Donald Bradman, whose total dominance over England in previous series led to the use of a new style of attack.

Yet, as this excellent book points out, it was nowhere near as concentrated as the frenzied Australian media of the time made it appear. Far more wickets were taken with orthodox bowling than the new form of attack, which was generally only used when the shine had gone from the ball and a batsman was set. Indeed, the two most notorious episodes of the series, when first Australian skipper Bill Woodfull was hit over the heart and then wicket-keeper Bill Oldfield on the head, were caused by ordinary balls that either lifted on an erratic surface or were ducked into. Michael Arnold's analysis suggests that a maximum of eleven wickets fell to a leg theory or bodyline delivery, the reality being that there were far fewer than that.

Unlike any other book on the subject, this one looks at the series in the light of the various social, international and cultural pressures of the time. Thus we see how the Australian media whipped supporters into anger at a time when they struggled to interpret their national heroes being second best. No one away from the games saw any of it in an era before television, so sports journalists made the main English protagonists into near-pantomime villains; supporters yelled the most appalling abuse and sent death threats

The author shows us that Jardine was the only amateur captain available to England who could see this through. He was a good enough player to be worth a place among strong professionals and had shown his own bravery against fast bowling. He had also finished near the top of the averages over the previous summers and had the total respect of his men. In Larwood he had a bowler at the height of his powers who was frighteningly quick. In the cricketing feudal system of the time he had no option but to follow the instructions of his captain and did so without question. While Bill Voce and Bill Bowes bowled in the same style, Larwood became the bete noir because he was so much faster, as well as relentlessly accurate.

The author examines the stance of Gubby Allen and Bob Wyatt, amateurs both and keen to remain on the right side of the cricketing establishment with a view to future involvement. The former's letters, published after his death, called the Nottinghamshire men "swollen-headed, gutless, uneducated miners" while the considerable correspondence of the period mysteriously disappeared from Lords files during the Second World War, assumed to be the work of Sir Pelham Warner, then Deputy Secretary of the MCC. His role as tour manager in 1932-33 was far from impressive.

This is a remarkable, incisive book. From examination of the leaden-footed techniques of the Australian batsmen of the series, to that of their own bowlers of more modest pace and looking at the Australian way of life in the period, it is a captivating read. Were Australian team selections at fault? Could the MCC have done more? What political pressures were brought to bear? All this and more can be seen in a book as page-turningly good as a best-selling novel.

Faults? It would have benefited from an index and the 'conversations' with Larwood are less evident in the text than I expected when I started it. Yet these are minor quibbles. I had hoped to review this book before now, but found it so fascinating that I decided to read it again to ensure I was right in my original opinion.

I was right first time as it happens. Michael Arnold has produced the most thorough, unbiased account of the series of my experience and I would regard this as one of the best cricket books I have had the pleasure of reading. For once, Harold Larwood and Douglas Jardine can both be seen as unwitting pawns in a much bigger game, rather than Machiavellian sportsmen whose actions came close to damaging relations within the Empire in the approach to the Second World War.

The Bodyline Hypocrisy: conversations with Harold Larwood by Michael Arnold is published by Pitch Publishing and is available from all good book stores. It is currently on Amazon at £10.99