Editing Bodyline (section)

===Donald Bradman===
[[File:Don Bradman 1930.jpg|thumb|Don Bradman in 1930]]
The [[Australian cricket team]] toured England in 1930. Australia won the five-[[Test cricket|Test]] series 2–1,<ref name="auslist">{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/guru?sdb=team;team=AUS;class=testteam;filter=basic;opposition=0;notopposition=0;decade=0;homeaway=0;continent=0;country=0;notcountry=0;groundid=0;season=0;startdefault=1877-03-15;start=1877-03-15;enddefault=2007-11-20;end=2007-11-20;tourneyid=0;finals=0;daynight=0;toss=0;scheduledovers=0;scheduleddays=0;innings=0;followon=0;result=0;seriesresult=0;captainid=0;recent=;viewtype=resultlist;runslow=;runshigh=;wicketslow=;wicketshigh=;ballslow=;ballshigh=;overslow=;overshigh=;bpo=0;batevent=;conclow=;conchigh=;takenlow=;takenhigh=;ballsbowledlow=;ballsbowledhigh=;oversbowledlow=;oversbowledhigh=;bpobowled=0;bowlevent=;submit=1;.cgifields=viewtype |title=Statsguru—Australia—Tests—Results list |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |access-date=21 December 2007}}</ref> and [[Donald Bradman]] scored 974 [[run (cricket)|runs]] at a [[batting average (cricket)|batting average]] of 139.14, an aggregate record that still stands to this day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Records: Test matches: Batting records: Most runs in a series|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/282849.html|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=21 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="p133">Perry, p. 133.</ref> By the time of the next Ashes series of 1932–33, Bradman's average hovered around 100, approximately twice that of all other world-class batsmen.<ref name=brad>Cashman, pp. 32–35.</ref><ref name=pi130>Piesse, p. 130.</ref> The English cricket authorities felt that specific tactics would be required to curtail Bradman from being even more successful on his own Australian pitches;<ref>Frith, pp. 39–41.</ref> some believed that Bradman was at his most vulnerable against [[Leg spin|leg-spin]] bowling as [[Walter Robins]] and [[Ian Peebles]] had supposedly caused him problems; consequently two leg-spinners were included in the English touring party of 1932–33.<ref>Douglas, p. 121.</ref>

Gradually, the idea developed that Bradman was possibly vulnerable to pace bowling. In the final Test of the 1930 Ashes series, while he was batting, the pitch became briefly difficult following rain. Bradman was observed to be uncomfortable facing deliveries which bounced higher than usual at a faster pace, being seen to consistently step back out of the line of the ball. Former England player and [[Surrey CCC|Surrey]] captain [[Percy Fender]] was one who noticed this, and the incident was much discussed by cricketers. Given that Bradman scored 232, it was not initially thought that a way to curb his prodigious scoring had been found.<ref>Frith, pp. 42–43.</ref><ref name=Do111>Douglas, p. 111.</ref> When Douglas Jardine later saw film footage of the Oval incident and noticed Bradman's discomfort, according to his daughter he shouted, "I've got it! He's yellow!"<ref>Frith, p. 50</ref> The theory of Bradman's vulnerability developed further when Fender received correspondence from Australia in 1932, describing how Australian batsmen were increasingly moving across the stumps towards the off side to play the ball on the on side. Fender showed these letters to his Surrey team-mate Jardine when it became clear that Jardine was to captain the English team in Australia during the 1932–33 tour, and he also discussed Bradman's discomfort at the Oval.<ref name=Do111/> It was also known in England that Bradman was dismissed for a four-ball [[Duck (cricket)|duck]] by fast bowler [[Eddie Gilbert (cricketer)|Eddie Gilbert]], and had looked very uncomfortable. Bradman had also appeared uncomfortable against the pace of [[Sandy Bell]] in his innings of 299 not out at the [[Adelaide Oval]] in [[South African cricket team in Australia in 1931–32|South Africa's tour of Australia]] earlier in 1932, when the desperate bowler decided to bowl short to him, and fellow South African [[Herbie Taylor]], according to [[Jack Fingleton]], may have mentioned this to English cricketers in 1932.<ref>Frith, pp. 39–40; p. 48</ref> Fender felt Bradman might be vulnerable to fast, short-pitched deliveries on the line of leg stump.<ref name="p135">Perry, p. 135.</ref><ref name="p244">Pollard, p. 244.</ref> Jardine felt that Bradman was nervous about standing his ground against intimidatory bowling, citing instances in 1930 when he shuffled about, contrary to orthodox batting technique.<ref name=pi130/><ref name=h70>Haigh and Frith, p. 70.</ref>