Why Douglas Jardine was the greatest Test captain....

Douglas Jardine wrote:We were indebted to our manager, R.C.N. Palairet, for a very good suggestion. He often did not say much, but what he said was always as helpful as it was sound. On this occasion, in view of the terrific heat, he suggested that our bowlers should be given at least half a dozen sips of champagne. All of us, I think, are agreed that the less use made of stimulants in all sport the better,but on this occasion the champagne proved an unqualified success. That we were not extravagant in its use will be appreciated when I say that three-quarters of a bottle sufficed for four individuals to have three drinks each. Further, it made it possible for some of them to eat a little lunch.

In blistering heat Australia lost 7 wickets (including Bradman) for just 76 runs and England secured the Ashes. Genius.

However when A. Flintoff attempted similar tactics in 2006/7 (admittedly without sharing out the bottle) he got vilified in the press. Its a harsh world.

Why Douglas Jardine was the greatest Test captain....

"Don't swat the flies Jardine, they're the only friends you've got in Australia."

Jeer heard from the crowd during a Bodyline test.

"All Australians are an uneducated and unruly mob"

Retort from Dougie Jardine to the behaviour of Australian fans.


Cricket eh ... don't you just love it?!!

yep...jardine was unqualified gentlemanly filth...he was a typical upper class twit of his day...prolly suffered from being flogged and rogered to often when in the upper fifth

"Which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?"
...yes, the Aussie team has a lot of respect for Jardine.

horace wrote:yep...jardine was unqualified gentlemanly filth...he was a typical upper class twit of his day...prolly suffered from being flogged and rogered to often when in the upper fifth

Ah ....wrong there Horrie ...the irony was that he was NOT upper class.... middle perhaps ... but certainly not upper.

This was proven when he was castigated and cast out by MCC (instigated by a very upper class s**t called Allen) upon his (Jardine's) triumphant return WITH the Ashes following Bodyline.
Point proven, job done.

And yes, he certainly was a gentleman ... as supported wholeheartedly by his manager in '32/'33, Pelham Warner.

even worse Merls if he was of the aspirational classes

horace wrote:even worse Merls if he was of the aspirational classes

You've got to give it to the man .... he had a dream (and a plan) ...and ..... it worked!
DGB's batting was nullified and the Ashes came home.... bugger the consequent pig-squealing from the Aussies ...
It was, as the Actress said to the Bishop .... - job done, Sir.

phurt...cricket has never been the same since...he tried to have people killed...heard the wonderful Larwood interviewed several times...he hated the tactics

Larwood turned ... came outta the closet ... became Antpodean ... adopted Aussie ways .... sucked up to the Aussie establishment and would thus say anything they scripted for him ...
At the time of Bodyline he was quoted as saying
"I never bowled to injure a man. Frighten them, intimidate them - yes."

Doesn't strike me, going on that quote, that he "hated" the tactics, in fact, both he and Voce revelled in it.

I don't think 'Bodyline' was anything new in terms of the bowlers looking to bowl a few short pitched balls to intimidate the batsmen. Others like McDonald and Gregory had done in before, and countless since.

The only main difference was the packed legside field that cut down the scoring options. All perfectly within the laws then, although since the limit of 2 fielders behind square on the legside has given the batsmen more scoring options.

Larwood and Voce bowled in a similar style for Notts, so it wasn't just Jardine's idea. Part of the problem was that Voce, and in particular Larwood were just too quick and too good for the Oz batsmen, who with the exception of Bradman and McCabe weren't nimble enough on their feet to play fast bowling.

As a character, Jardine was similar in some ways to Allan Border - he simply wasn't interested what the opposition players, fans, administrators though of him and was focused on winning.