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The uncouth colonials, as the lords at Lord's thought them,
actually showed the peers that there was a greater love for
the game and for sport from those Down Under, than those snouts
in England.
The tactics that almost led to a major political split between
the two nations were called either fast-leg theory (an English
euphemism) or Bodyline, by which the England fast bowlers
bounced the crap out of our gallant lads while a mob of close-in
fielders waited to take the leg-side catches.
Anyway, the lead-up to the series is almost as interesting
as the matches themselves and in this fantastic doco you'll
find out how much anger the England tactics caused. In Adelaide
they had mounted police ready to break up a near-riot!
And it should be mentioned that while Douglas Jardine, England
captain and all-round rotter, copped a lot of flak for his
part in the series there is more than enough evidence uncovered
in Bodyline - It's Just Not Cricket! to show he was only following
orders from the MCC.
There are a host of people interviewed over the series -
including the son of Australian captain Bill Woodfull and
daughters of Jardine, Larwood and Bill Voce. And you get to
find out who the culprit from the Australian dressing room
was who spilled the beans to the press on the famous quote
from Woodfull: "There are two teams out there, one is
playing cricket. The other is making no attempt to do so!"
This is a fantastic doco and the big problem with it is that
it is far too short. It only goes 59 minutes and they go faster
than a Harold Larwood bumper!
The transfer is excellent and the sound is a very clear stereo.
Conclusion: Movie 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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