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Bodyline: The Novel
England, captained by the grimly defiant Jardin and including Larwood, probably the fastest bowler the game has ever seen, had set out to win back the Ashes, - at any cost. It was a crucial event in the history of cricket. 'Bodyline' is the story of that fateful tour, in all its colour and excitement. It tells how cricket, once the sport of gentlemen and honourable fair play, was pitched into the realms of war.
The Bodyline series is well-documented. Now, however, for the first time, Paul Wheeler has exploited his intensive research and all the powers of fiction to give us this gripping drama - 'Bodyline'.
The Bodyline series is well-documented. Now, however, for the first time, Paul Wheeler has exploited his intensive research and all the powers of fiction to give us this gripping drama - 'Bodyline'.
- GenresHistory
211 pages, Hardcover
First published September 5, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2021
Most ardent cricket followers know the story of the 1932/33 England tour of Australia, the notorious Bodyline tour where telegrams were exchanged between the authorities in both countries due to the 'unsportsmanlike' conduct of one of the teams. In 'Bodyline: The Novel', Paul Wheeler puts a fictional slant on the tour and all the peripheral activities with his hypothesis of what might have happened while the action was taking place.
The man who eventually captained England on the tour, India-born Douglas Jardine, turned down the opportunity to captain the side when originally asked but political pressure was put on him, with the subtle mention of possible honours as bait, and eventually his desire to defeat the Colonials was too great for him to turn the offer down.
He had a tenuous relationship with his players, particularly the professionals and even more particularly with his fast bowlers Harold Larwood, the spearhead, Bill Voce, Gubby Allen and Bill Bowes. But he needed this foursome, particularly the first two mentioned, to spearhead a leg-side bowling attack that he hoped would nullify Australia's 'Boy Wonder, Don Bradman. So he arranged pre-tour meetings with Larwood and Voce and then spent time on the boat with them discussing how the tactics would work.
The fact that the tactics did work was evident in England's 4-1 series win. But it was not without serious consequences that very nearly brought the tour to a premature end and very nearly destroyed any friendliness between the England and Australian Cricket Boards. The Australians sent critical telegrams to the UK and Jardine was approached with a view to diplomatically handling the situation down under. He steadfastly refused and, despite a couple of very bad injuries to Australian batsmen, the series continued despite the antipathy of the crowds who were always hurling abuse at the England players, and Jardine in particular.
Fortunately diplomatic relations were restored and Paul Wheeler successfully weaves the factual action with the supposed behind the scenes activity to produce a spell-binding novel that provides food for thought as to what may well have taken place. The book leaves no doubt as to what the Australians thought of Jardine and his tactics but despite England's emphatic win, Bradman still score more runs, 396 at 56.57 than any other player on either side ... and, as cricket history reveals, he went on to even greater things thereafter!
The main victim of the affair was Larwood who never played another Test match, despite only acting under instructions from his captain during each of the games. Jardine himself only played a further six Tests before he retired. Larwood was so disenchanted with cricket that he reired early from the first-class game and ended his days as club professional at my hometown club, Blackpool in 1939; he then emigrated to Australia where he became dearly beloved.
The man who eventually captained England on the tour, India-born Douglas Jardine, turned down the opportunity to captain the side when originally asked but political pressure was put on him, with the subtle mention of possible honours as bait, and eventually his desire to defeat the Colonials was too great for him to turn the offer down.
He had a tenuous relationship with his players, particularly the professionals and even more particularly with his fast bowlers Harold Larwood, the spearhead, Bill Voce, Gubby Allen and Bill Bowes. But he needed this foursome, particularly the first two mentioned, to spearhead a leg-side bowling attack that he hoped would nullify Australia's 'Boy Wonder, Don Bradman. So he arranged pre-tour meetings with Larwood and Voce and then spent time on the boat with them discussing how the tactics would work.
The fact that the tactics did work was evident in England's 4-1 series win. But it was not without serious consequences that very nearly brought the tour to a premature end and very nearly destroyed any friendliness between the England and Australian Cricket Boards. The Australians sent critical telegrams to the UK and Jardine was approached with a view to diplomatically handling the situation down under. He steadfastly refused and, despite a couple of very bad injuries to Australian batsmen, the series continued despite the antipathy of the crowds who were always hurling abuse at the England players, and Jardine in particular.
Fortunately diplomatic relations were restored and Paul Wheeler successfully weaves the factual action with the supposed behind the scenes activity to produce a spell-binding novel that provides food for thought as to what may well have taken place. The book leaves no doubt as to what the Australians thought of Jardine and his tactics but despite England's emphatic win, Bradman still score more runs, 396 at 56.57 than any other player on either side ... and, as cricket history reveals, he went on to even greater things thereafter!
The main victim of the affair was Larwood who never played another Test match, despite only acting under instructions from his captain during each of the games. Jardine himself only played a further six Tests before he retired. Larwood was so disenchanted with cricket that he reired early from the first-class game and ended his days as club professional at my hometown club, Blackpool in 1939; he then emigrated to Australia where he became dearly beloved.
July 5, 2009
If your into English cricket this is for you, my dad wrote it.
February 12, 2021
Not 100% successful as a novel - slightly wooden characters and the dialogue is a bit stilted - but for the cricket fan its rarely less than compelling. For the non cricket fan? Well, reads too much like a series of match reports (although if you ask me the only thing that has more potential for drama than a test match - 'long form cricket' - is a series of 5 test matches...)
June 10, 2011
Barely fictionalized account of the infamous 1932-33 Ashes Test-series between the England and Australian cricket teams. In order to combat the machine-like batting of Australian Don Bradman (the Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky of Australia) the English decided to use the controversial leg-theory or "bodyline" bowling attack which meant that the English bowlers bounced the ball short and directly at the bodies of the Australian batters and away from the wicket. This approach was hugely controversial and not considerd "cricket" by all of Australia and much of England's cricket establishment.
The book does a good job of establishing the facts as well as the thinking of the personalities involved on both sides and reads almost like non-fiction.
The book does a good job of establishing the facts as well as the thinking of the personalities involved on both sides and reads almost like non-fiction.
September 9, 2017
A fascinating novel based on true events - something of a morality tale when sport gets overtaken by nationalistic fervour, politics and personal vanity.
I must confess I know nothing about cricket and care even less but this was still an enjoyable read in its own right.
I must confess I know nothing about cricket and care even less but this was still an enjoyable read in its own right.
December 26, 2014
A novelization of the 1932-33 Ashes series.
More here:
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2014/0...
More here:
http://inkquilletc.blogspot.in/2014/0...
February 8, 2018
A good little novel with facts mingled in.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews