Editing Bodyline (section)

===First two Test matches===
[[File:Bodyline cable descriptions 2nd Test 30 December 1932 a295004.jpg|thumb|Description of play in the second Test, including Bradman's wicket. Cables briefly describing each day's play were sent by reporters to England, where they were turned into scripts for broadcast.| alt=Photograph shows telegrams describing the events of the first day of the second test.]]
Bradman missed the first Test at Sydney, worn out by constant cricket and the ongoing argument with the Board of Control.<ref>Frith, p. 109.</ref> Jardine later wrote that the real reason was that the batsman had suffered a [[nervous breakdown]].<ref name=ha344/><ref name=h71>Haigh and Frith, p. 71.</ref> The English bowlers used bodyline intermittently in the first match, to the crowd's vocal displeasure,<ref>Frith, pp. 117, 120, 126, 134.</ref> and the Australians lost the game by ten wickets.{{refn|Winning by ten wickets means that the team batting last had ten wickets left to fall when they passed their opponent's match aggregate of runs.|group=notes|}} Larwood was particularly successful, returning match figures of ten wickets for 124 runs.<ref name=F137>Frith, p. 137.</ref> One of the English bowlers, [[Gubby Allen]], refused to bowl with fielders on the leg side, clashing with Jardine over these tactics.<ref name="Frith, p. 116">Frith, p. 116.</ref>{{refn|Allen, whose definition of bodyline differed from that of others, maintained that England did not use bodyline until the second innings of the second Test, when Larwood began to bowl outside leg stump.<ref>Swanton, pp. 137–38.</ref> Despite his objection to bodyline, he fielded in the leg trap throughout the series and took several catches off Larwood's bowling.<ref name="Frith, p. 116"/>|group=notes|}} The only Australian batsman to make an impact was [[Stan McCabe]], who hooked and pulled everything aimed at his upper body,<ref name=c172>Colman, p. 172.</ref> to score 187 not out in four hours from 233 [[Delivery (cricket)|deliveries]].<ref name=F137/><ref name=ha344/> Behind the scenes, administrators began to express concerns to each other. Yet the English tactics still did not earn universal disapproval; former Australian captain [[Monty Noble]] praised the English bowling.<ref>Frith, pp. 134–35.</ref>

Meanwhile, Woodfull was being encouraged to retaliate to the short-pitched English attack, not least by members of his own side such as [[Vic Richardson]], or to include pace bowlers such as [[Eddie Gilbert (cricketer)|Eddie Gilbert]] or [[Laurie Nash]] to match the aggression of the opposition.<ref name=w132>Whitington and Hele, p. 132.</ref> But Woodfull refused to consider doing so.<ref>Frith, p. 134.</ref><ref>{{Cite web| last = Haigh | first = Gideon | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/316110.html| title = Gideon Haigh on Bodyline: A tactic of its time| date = 22 October 2007 |publisher = ESPNCricinfo| access-date = 1 February 2011}}</ref><ref>Colman, pp. 181–182.</ref> He had to wait until minutes before the game before he was confirmed as captain by the selectors.<ref>O'Reilly, p.88.</ref><ref name=ha346>Harte, p. 346.</ref>

For the second Test, Bradman returned to the team after his newspaper employers released him from his contract.<ref>Frith, p. 139.</ref> England continued to use bodyline and Bradman was dismissed by his first ball in the first innings.{{refn|Jardine, who was known for being extremely dour even by the standards of the day,<ref name=pi132>Piesse, p. 132.</ref> was seen to be so delighted that he had clasped his hands above his head and performed a "war dance".<ref>Bowes, p. 107.</ref>|group=notes|}} In the second innings, against the full bodyline attack, he scored an unbeaten century which helped Australia to win the match and level the series at one match each.<ref>Frith, pp. 150, 159–63.</ref> Critics began to believe bodyline was not quite the threat that had been perceived and Bradman's reputation, which had suffered slightly with his earlier failures, was restored. However, the pitch was slightly slower than others in the series, and Larwood was suffering from problems with his boots which reduced his effectiveness.<ref>Douglas, p. 137.</ref><ref>Frith, p. 165.</ref>