Bodyline
In the time of the 1932-33 Ashes Tour, bodyline tactics were found responsible for the strain on imperial relations between Australia and England. Heavy social and political influences promoted the significance of the Ashes series and caused great reactions by players, management, spectators and primarily the media.
The pressured relations between Australia and the Empire during the Ashes series made the game of cricket reach wider margins than what took place on the cricket field. It impacted on elements of society and even extended to political spheres. Cricket had just reached a high point as a form of colonial consolidation as the English believed it to be a bonding agent to draw its dominions closer to the Empire. As Lord Hawke stated in his introduction to imperial cricket, “The greatest game in the world is played where ever the Union Jack is unfurled, and it has no small place in cementing the ties that bond together every part of the Empire…” This quote elucidates the importance of cricket, at such an early stage in time. It also implies that cricket wasn’t just a game; it was the key to successful relations between England and all of its dominions. Cricket in fact was used as a metaphor for life. Many saw the game as an association of ideas and a tutor of self control and physical training. Moreover, the English believed it to be a test of colonial progress and the reinforcement of imperial standard.
The implementation of the bodyline tactic was the central cause to the pushed relations between Australian and English players, and between Jardine and English Amateurs. The reality of England being dominated by Australia in a game that was a national pastime was absurd to Jardine, thus he came up with the bodyline tactic to deliberately injure and intimidate the Australian batsmen- particularly Don Bradman. Jardine completely disregarded England’s concept of strengthening bonds of the Empire as his greatest ambition was to regain the Ashes in 1932, at
The pressured relations between Australia and the Empire during the Ashes series made the game of cricket reach wider margins than what took place on the cricket field. It impacted on elements of society and even extended to political spheres. Cricket had just reached a high point as a form of colonial consolidation as the English believed it to be a bonding agent to draw its dominions closer to the Empire. As Lord Hawke stated in his introduction to imperial cricket, “The greatest game in the world is played where ever the Union Jack is unfurled, and it has no small place in cementing the ties that bond together every part of the Empire…” This quote elucidates the importance of cricket, at such an early stage in time. It also implies that cricket wasn’t just a game; it was the key to successful relations between England and all of its dominions. Cricket in fact was used as a metaphor for life. Many saw the game as an association of ideas and a tutor of self control and physical training. Moreover, the English believed it to be a test of colonial progress and the reinforcement of imperial standard.
The implementation of the bodyline tactic was the central cause to the pushed relations between Australian and English players, and between Jardine and English Amateurs. The reality of England being dominated by Australia in a game that was a national pastime was absurd to Jardine, thus he came up with the bodyline tactic to deliberately injure and intimidate the Australian batsmen- particularly Don Bradman. Jardine completely disregarded England’s concept of strengthening bonds of the Empire as his greatest ambition was to regain the Ashes in 1932, at