Bodyline

Overview

Fifty years ago cricket was riven by an acrimonious feud. The cause of the furore was the determination of England's Captain, Douglas Jardine , to regain the Ashes at any cost. Against Australia's ' run machine ' Don Bradman and the rest of the team Jardine unleashed Harold Larwood , one of the fastest bowlers the world has ever seen. As Larwood scythed through the demoralised Australians' batting there were howls of anguish from cricket lovers, who branded it ' unsportsmanlike '. The story of that explosive tour is told by some of the men who played through cricket's darkest hour, and the man whose bowling changed the ethics of international cricket for ever, the former Notts miner - Harold Larwood.