Bodyline (1984–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Episode #1.5 - full transcript
He'll play, Bradman'll play.
Buy the Herald.
He'll play, Bradman'll play.
Buy the Herald.
At last.
I have come 12,000 miles for this.
Don?
Can't sleep, Jess.
You alright?
Yeah, I'm alright.
I'm just thinking.
The board has been put in its place and
you're back doing what you do best.
Just go out there tomorrow
and hit 'em for six.
Get ready, Bill. You'll
be playing today.
Oh, aye, skipper.
I'm sorry, Hedley. You'll be resting.
I'm trying a pace attack.
Right you are, skipper.
Why aren't you dressed?
Frankly, Douglas, I wasn't
sure I'd been playing.
Course you are. Sir,
Bradman is playing.
Just get dressed, please, Gubby.
You know I won't bowl to your
leg theory field, don't you?
- Very well.
- Douglas?
Douglas?
You've, uh, changed the
composition of the team.
That's right. Without consulting me.
There wasn't time to convene a meeting.
Besides, it was a
straightforward substitution.
Well, boy, you are entering this
match without a single slow bowler.
Do you think that wise?
I wouldn't have done it had
I not thought it wise.
Besides, I had to accommodate for the
inclusion of Bradman in the team.
This Bradman mania of yours could
cost us the advantage we now hold.
Woody's won it again. We're batting.
Good on you. You beauty!
Batting, Don.
You're in my seat. Oh. Terribly sorry.
Good morning from Melbourne
and welcome to this
direct radio broadcast
of the first day of the second Test.
It's a fine day here
and I estimate the crowd to be
somewhere between 60,000 and 70,000
for this vital game -
Australia one down on the series after
England won the first Test in Sydney.
And the news is that Australia will
bat after Woodfull won the toss.
And all Australians must
be asking the question
if the England captain, Jardine, will
employ the controversial
leg theory field
called 'bodyline' now by
the Australian newspapers.
We're ready now for the first
ball of the second Test.
It's an orthodox field.
We have Larwood running
in to bowl to Fingleton.
He runs up now and bowls, and Fingleton
plays it away on the off side
and he and Woodfull are going to
scamper through for a single.
That ball was pitched up right
on the stumps, it wasn't short,
and Australia has a run on the board.
And of course, there are high hopes here
for the Australian hero Don Bradman,
who'll be batting in this match
after missing the first Test
in Sydney through illness.
At the end of the first
over- Australia 0/5,
with Fingleton 5, Woodfull no score.
Sounds like Don won't
be in for a while.
Think I'll put the kettle on.
You'll stay for a cuppa,
won't you, Colin?
Oh, heck, no, Mrs Bradman. I have
to deliver the rest of these.
I'll, uh, see you later, George.
Yes, Col.
And now it's Larwood
to bowl to Fingleton.
It's short, and Fingleton hooks
through the leg-side field.
There'll be a couple here.
It's getting out towards the boundary.
They come back for a second one
and Fingleton runs on to 17.
That's Fingleton, 17. Woodfull, 10.
Australia, 0/27.
Australia going well.
This pitch looks easier-paced than the
one for the first Test in Sydney.
Now, it's back to a
new over from Allen.
He'll be bowling from the
far end to Woodfull,
and Woodfull goes back, and
he's beaten and bowled.
Woodfull is out, and from
0/27, Australia 1/27.
I don't believe it!
Fingleton has put up a marvellous
performance today so far.
He and O'Brien have continued
to resist the fast bowling...
More tea, George?
And the Australian skipper, Bill
Woodfull, has wisely used O'Brien
to take the sting out of Larwood's
attack before Bradman comes in.
So the stage, therefore, is set for
a major innings by Don Bradman.
It's a dogged performance by Fingleton.
He's ready for Larwood again.
The bowler races in, and
this one's a short ball,
and Fingleton's struck again.
And he's not very happy out there
at all, and nor is the crowd.
Bugger off!
Any danger of playing cricket?
The tall Yorkshireman Bowes
to bowl to Fingleton.
Pushed away on the on side.
They go for a run.
Surely this looks like suicide.
The fieldsman there is Wyatt.
The throw looks good.
O'Brien must be run out.
Yes. O'Brien has been run out for 10.
Australia now 2 wickets down for 67.
And the stage here is
set for Don Bradman.
Now we'll see some action.
Good luck, son.
Don!
Little beauty!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman,
Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman,
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Play has been held up
for 10 minutes already
because of the record crowd with their
tremendous welcome to Don Bradman.
He was supported from the
moment he appeared...
Bill, over.
He then signalled to his slip fieldsmen
to move across to the on side.
Easy, boy.
Howzat?!
I don't believe it.
The off stump. It was
an inviting height.
Bradman tried to step inside of it and
hook it away to the leg-side boundary,
and it must've hit the inside edge
and go back under his stumps.
I can't believe it. Don
Bradman is out first ball.
And I've never seen a scene like
this at a cricket match in my life.
He is walking off the field, and
there's not a single sound.
Don?
I couldn't play another shot
like that for £1 million.
It could've happened to anyone.
But it happened to me, Jessie.
I've let them all down.
And that's the end of England's first
innings on this, the last day of 1932.
Australia leads England by 59 runs
- Australia 228, England 169.
We'll be back on Monday for the
continuation of this
exciting second Test.
Until then, I wish you all a
happy and prosperous new year.
Happy new year! Happy new year, Dad.
Happy new year. Now here's Mother.
- Happy new year, Jessie.
- Happy new year.
Happy new year, Mum.
Happy new year, son.
And, son, how about a
century for the new year?
I'll try!
Yes. You take care.
'Bye. 'Bye.
Happy new year, Jess.
Ah! Don't let me stop you.
- A happy new year to you both.
- Happy new year.
You're being called for, inside.
They want you to give them
a tune on the old goanna.
Ladies and gentlemen, Don Bradman,
the master with the willow,
the maestro of the ivories.
Road to Gundagai.
♪ Along the road to Gundagai... ♪
Two beers, thanks.
Hey. They only serve
Australians here, mate.
It's on me, Raymond. Thank
you very much, Mr Cooper.
Get him pissed, tomorrow
he won't be able
to do a round with a revolving door.
- Happy new year.
- Aye, happy new year.
Your shout, Harold.
Aye. Right.
And two more, thanks. Schooners.
It's nice to see our chaps
enjoying themselves.
As long as it doesn't
affect their performance.
It might help.
If I may say so, Douglas, they've
been under a lot of pressure.
There's been some discontent.
What about? The fact that
we've contained Bradman?
Of course not.
But some of the lads feel you could
be driving Larwood too hard.
Has Larwood complained? No, he hasn't.
And he won't, because
he's a professional.
He knows that he earns his
money playing cricket.
Yes, but the amateurs don't.
Some of them are a little
worried about our tactics.
Who? Gubby?
Well, we all know that
Gubby's a friend of Plum's.
Not just Gubby. There's the Nawab.
It's about time His
Highness learnt there
is one man who decides the tactics,
and that is the captain.
Any man - royal highness or
not - who doesn't accept that
has no place in my team.
Well, I'm just letting you
know what the feelings are.
I know, Bob. It's very good of you.
I suppose...
that's what vice-captains are for.
Right. Thank you, boys.
I think the man has won.
Good on you, mate.
Welcome again to the
Melbourne Cricket Ground
for the third day of play
at this, the second Test.
Australia in a good position here
- a commanding position, in fact-
and they could level
the series at 1-all.
In this huge amphitheatre -
just a vast sea of faces,
and it wouldn't surprise me if
this wasn't a world-record crowd
for a single day of a Test match.
Despite that unfortunate and quite
extraordinary duck by Don Bradman,
Australia recovered well through some
lusty hitting by the tail enders
to make 228.
Then England made a good start,
but they lost 9/61 through the
bowling of O'Reilly and Wall.
They skittled nine
batsmen between them.
All the batsmen, I think, for
Australia must have crossed fingers -
in fact, all Australian supporters.
Course, can their batting line-up
consolidate in this match
after their dismal
performance in Sydney?
And the eyes of the nation are
on Don Bradman in particular.
Not only does the team
need him to make runs,
but he himself must feel it important
to eradicate the memory of
that first-innings duck.
Oooh!
The England fast bowlers are
struggling too on this pitch,
and Captain Jardine must have regrets
about not having the
services of a quality
spin bowler such as Hedley Verity.
But we're watching now,
as Larwood comes in again
to bowl to left-handed O'Brien.
Larwood bowls, O'Brien's beaten,
the off stump goes cartwheeling
out of the ground,
and O'Brien is out.
Three cheers for Don Bradman!
- Hip hip...
- Hooray!
Hooray! Hooray!
And that's an emotional welcome for
Australia's greatest cricketer-
the magnificent Don Bradman.
It's straight through mid-on.
Bradman goes through for a single.
And he's off the pair.
They come back for a second.
And Don Bradman has scored
his first runs of the match,
his first of the series.
No, Douglas.
I see that His Highness is
a conscientious objector.
Yes!
Alright, Harold?
Yes!
Over.
Thanks, George.
What's wrong? Skipper, I
have to change my boot.
It's split. Very well, then.
But hurry up. Right.
Are you alright, Harold?
Aye. Bloody ground's
as hard as concrete.
Oh, dear.
It's been a day of high drama
in the second Test, here at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
And the important news for Australia
is that Don Bradman is not out.
And he gets more runs here.
They take two. They're
coming back for a third run.
And Bradman's score goes on to 30.
And his partner out there is the
Australian captain, Bill Woodfull.
Larwood to bowl to Woodfull.
Short. Woodfull hooks. But a great
catch there on the short leg.
That's Allen, who'd run across.
And Woodfull is out for 26.
Good luck, Napper. Make a few.
Good on you, Napper.
And McCabe has been clean-bowled
by Allen for a duck.
Richardson, on 32, is facing
the bowling of Larwood.
He goes back. He's rapped on the pads.
He's right in front.
Yes, he's out, leg before.
Richardson out for 32.
Australia, 5/135 - a lead of 194.
And the man who could win this match
for Australia is Don Bradman,
but he's running out of partners,
with the Australian wickets tumbling.
Straight bat, Tim.
Tim Wall is Bradman's sixth
batting partner for the day,
and he has the strike
now against Bowes.
Bradman is 83, getting closer and
closer to that elusive century.
But can he do it? It's not
going to be all that easy.
He has only the tail-enders
to support him,
and they're known in
cricket as the 'rabbits'.
And it's Hammond, with his
medium-pacers, to bowl to Wall.
And he's bowled him!
Yes, Wall is out for 3.
And Australia, 8/184.
Larwood bowls to Bradman. He's on 96.
He'll get runs here.
They take a single. He goes to 97.
They're coming back for the second run.
And Bradman goes on to 98.
But why did he take that second run?
That was the last ball of the over.
He'll lose the strike.
Over!
Thanks, George.
Hammond to bowl to O'Reilly.
That's an edge, and it's gone
through to Ames, the keeper.
And, yes, he's out, caught.
Australia, 9/186.
And only Ironmonger to come in.
And Bradman is 98.
Thanks, Napper. I'll owe you one.
Dainty, it's your missus.
The wife? Tell her to hang on.
Don't joke about it.
Don't even try to hit the ball
unless it's absolutely necessary.
Just hold out till the end of the over.
I'll be right.
Good luck, mate. He'll
call you back, love.
Don's in trouble now, son.
Not Dainty. Not the Ferret. Huh.
Mr Ironmonger doesn't look
much like a ferret to me.
That's what they call him.
It'll be alright, son.
I won't let you down.
Well, most bowlers, you see, they
can't bat to save their lives.
They come in at the end of the innings.
They're called 'rabbits'.
Now, Dainty, they call
him 'the Ferret'...
because he goes in after the rabbits.
Right arm over. Three balls to come.
Three?!
Another coat of varnish...
you would've been out.
And you're a Pommy bastard.
Ironmonger somehow
survived that first ball.
There are still two balls left in this
over from Hammond, and
Don Bradman is 98.
I can't bear to listen.
The ball's back with Hammond,
at the end of his bowling run.
Ironmonger crouching over his bat.
A hushed silence here round the ground.
Hammond starts to move in.
Comes up, and he bowls.
And through to the keeper.
It was short.
No stroke offered by Ironmonger.
One ball left in the over.
Jardine brings in the field.
Go a little easy on us,
will you, old fella?
One ball left in this dramatic over.
Not a sound around this ground.
Hammond... to Ironmonger.
It's off the bat. It's in the air!
Jardine dives. It was a
catch, but he's dropped it.
He couldn't take it.
And Don Bradman has a
chance to reach that 100.
Well played, Dainty!
It's the end of the over...
It's alright. Ironmonger's survived.
They lead now by 245.
But the important thing is that
Don Bradman has the strike
and a chance to make that hundred...
Now Don's got his chance.
After his first-ball duck
in the first innings.
Bowl them short. Dig them in.
Bowl them wide.
Anything so he can't get any runs.
We'll get Ironmonger down this end.
Very good, skipper.
Bradman crouched down over his bat.
The bowler is Voce.
Jardine taking a long
time to place his field.
Voce to Bradman.
He's pulled round the on side.
There'll be runs here.
He sets off for the first one.
That takes him to 99.
They're coming back now for the second.
A chase there for
Larwood, who's limping.
No. They come back for the second one.
That's Bradman's hundred.
He wants a third.
Larwood has it just inside the fence.
They're going for the third run.
The return comes back. And
Bradman will get home.
It comes back to the bowler's end.
And Bradman dives.
I think he's safe. And Don
Bradman has reached his century!
And the crowd goes absolutely wild!
He's done it. Don Bradman, 101 not out.
Australia, 9/189. He's done it!
He's done it! One of the greatest
centuries ever seen on this ground.
Good on you, Don!
He's done it! He's done it!
He's done it!
♪ Who is it that all
Australia raves about? ♪
Listen. Listen.
Come and listen to the wireless!
♪ We know he's just a country boy
♪ But he's bringing down the house
♪ And he's our Don Bradman
♪ Now, I ask you, is he any good?
♪ Our Don Bradman
♪ As a batsman, he is
certainly plum pud... ♪
And just listen to this.
I ask you, is he any good?!
Is he any good?!
♪ Our Don Bradman
♪ As a batsman, he is plum pud! ♪
Onya, Don!
And that's it. England all out for 139.
And that ties the Test series at 1-all.
Australia has won the
second Test by 111 runs.
And just listen to that mighty reception
out there for the local team,
here at the Melbourne ground.
What a proud, proud day for Australia.
Hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!
Are you coming to
congratulate the Australians?
If you'll permit me one
small observation...
Alright. I miscalculated.
But the wicket was doctored.
What are you saying? That the curator
would deliberately go out...
That wicket was
deliberately underprepared.
Whether the curator acted under
instructions or not, I cannot say.
I fear you are making excuses for
your own errors of judgement.
I warned you against acting rashly.
And I told you that I shall be making
the tactical decisions on this tour.
Your obsession with Bradman has
clouded all your decision-making,
and that is the reason
we have lost this Test!
Well, I shall not allow that situation
to repeat itself in Adelaide.
Excuse me, Mr Jardine. Yes, what is it?
Well, I... I've just discovered I'm to
play in the social match at the weekend.
Yes. You're to be the twelfth man.
Aye, well...
I thought I might have a bit
of time off before Adelaide.
What were you planning to do?
Well, I... I was simply just
hoping to rest my feet.
I had to leave the field four
times in the second Test.
Yes, I'm well aware of it. You spent
an hour away from the game, all told.
Aye, but I still bowled more
overs than anyone else.
You would've bowled a lot more if you
hadn't been off the field so often.
I couldn't help it. My
boots kept splitting.
I bowled as hard as I could.
No, you didn't. None of you did.
That's why Bradman scored his century
and the Australians won the Test.
Voce and Bowes aren't in
this social team, though.
Harold, listen to me.
You are my principal weapon,
the spearhead of my attack.
Not Voce and Bowes.
I want you fit for Adelaide.
Fitter, faster and meaner
than you've ever been.
So I'm to be twelfth man, then?
No.
No, you can play.
And I expect to see you at
the practice nets tomorrow.
Aye. Right.
He's gone mad.
Stark raving mad.
Oh, you've just realised that?
Aye. He thinks he owns
us, body and soul.
We are being paid, Harold.
Yeah, but not very bloody much.
Stop moaning, Bill.
Aye. Don't warrant treatment like this.
Anyway, the amateurs
are fed up with him,
so they'd better watch out in Adelaide.
I'll stay. I'll have one.
Like tossing a cake of soap.
Knock that beach ball
off his nut, Harold!
Onya, Don!
Oooh!
In for a duck.
Well bowled, Harold.
Can we have your autograph, Mr Bradman?
A bit later, fellas.
Take it easy, Don. It's
only practice, you know.
Onya, Bradman!
Hey, fancy cap. Have a look
at the boy next to you.
He'll show you how it's done.
Did Mummy call you, son?
Wanted on the phone, are you?
Can't take it, eh?
I want this rabble excluded
from all further practice.
What the... But the public is always...
I did not come all this way to provide
free entertainment for the masses.
I do not want them here after lunch.
Come on, now. Out youse go.
Come on, fellas.
Hey. What's all this?
No spectators allowed. Says who?
Orders of the Cricket
Board and Sardine.
Go to buggery. We'll see about this.
I can go anywhere. I'm the press.
Yeah, I know, Chook. In...
No, look, Jonesy, you can't... Uh...
Hang on. He's, uh... he's alright.
He's me... photographer.
Who's that? Your assistant?
Never seen him before in my life.
Stay.
Alright. But don't you
cause any trouble, Jonesy.
I'm sorry. Sorry, boys.
Sorry, mates. Sorry.
Douglas, there are some members of the
press outside who want a statement.
Practice is for the players,
not for the public.
I certainly don't wish to
speak to the press about it.
My dear chap, we cannot afford
to risk any further bad blood.
We have already come under attack
for our tactics on the field.
I shall settle that
matter once and for all.
Show them in.
Everything we have done has been
well within the laws of cricket.
We have placed a more difficult field
than is ordinarily
employed with fast bowling
and have been successful in curbing
the activities of the batsmen.
But I can assure you that there
is nothing new in this stratagem,
nor any graver danger
than in any other.
Bull.
It has been successful so far,
and Mr Warner and I hope that
it will go on being successful.
Is that right, Mr Warner?
You support the tactics of Mr Jardine and
in particular this bodyline bowling?
W-w-well, um...
as Mr Jardine says, it is, uh...
a legitimate form of leg theory.
Would this be the same 'leg theory'
that you derided in the Morning
Post of August 22, 1932?
And I quote...
"These tactics should be deplored.
"With five men on the leg side,
the balls were short-pitched
"and frequently bounced
head-high and more.
"If all fast bowlers were
to adopt these methods,
"there would be trouble
and plenty of it.
"This is not bowling. Indeed,
it is not even cricket."
Now, in light of that
article, Mr Warner,
would you say that you describe the
current English attack to be cricket?
Well, the, uh, circumstances were
entirely different in London and...
Oh. How different? Well, um...
If you'd researched a
little further, Mr Cooper,
you would have discovered that
I was playing in that match
and I faced that leg theory field.
The circumstances then, as Mr
Warner correctly points out,
were completely different.
Oh. Would you care to define
the difference, Mr Jardine?
No. I would not.
And the people of Adelaide,
I welcome you all,
and we hope that your stay in our
fair city will be indeed a happy one.
Hear, hear.
Good Lord.
A little cooler out here.
It's a little quieter, anyway.
The sun would be just now
setting at my home in India.
It truly never sets upon
the British Empire.
You are very much the empire
man, aren't you, Douglas?
Ah, it's what makes we British
the greatest race on earth.
We must all have the
courage of our convictions
and do what we think best.
But we must play the
game by the rules too.
By the rules, yes. But also to win.
Winning is everything to you, isn't it?
No, Pati. But I see
no honour in defeat.
What do you want of me, Douglas?
Simply your support on the field.
The field of honour?
I cannot play your way, Douglas.
I'm your captain.
Surely you'll agree to
abide by my decisions?
If I can't?
Then I should prefer it if
you didn't play at all.
Then... that is how it must be.
I cannot play your way,
Douglas, my friend.
You will never play Test cricket again.
Then I bid you goodnight.
Buy the Herald.
He'll play, Bradman'll play.
Buy the Herald.
At last.
I have come 12,000 miles for this.
Don?
Can't sleep, Jess.
You alright?
Yeah, I'm alright.
I'm just thinking.
The board has been put in its place and
you're back doing what you do best.
Just go out there tomorrow
and hit 'em for six.
Get ready, Bill. You'll
be playing today.
Oh, aye, skipper.
I'm sorry, Hedley. You'll be resting.
I'm trying a pace attack.
Right you are, skipper.
Why aren't you dressed?
Frankly, Douglas, I wasn't
sure I'd been playing.
Course you are. Sir,
Bradman is playing.
Just get dressed, please, Gubby.
You know I won't bowl to your
leg theory field, don't you?
- Very well.
- Douglas?
Douglas?
You've, uh, changed the
composition of the team.
That's right. Without consulting me.
There wasn't time to convene a meeting.
Besides, it was a
straightforward substitution.
Well, boy, you are entering this
match without a single slow bowler.
Do you think that wise?
I wouldn't have done it had
I not thought it wise.
Besides, I had to accommodate for the
inclusion of Bradman in the team.
This Bradman mania of yours could
cost us the advantage we now hold.
Woody's won it again. We're batting.
Good on you. You beauty!
Batting, Don.
You're in my seat. Oh. Terribly sorry.
Good morning from Melbourne
and welcome to this
direct radio broadcast
of the first day of the second Test.
It's a fine day here
and I estimate the crowd to be
somewhere between 60,000 and 70,000
for this vital game -
Australia one down on the series after
England won the first Test in Sydney.
And the news is that Australia will
bat after Woodfull won the toss.
And all Australians must
be asking the question
if the England captain, Jardine, will
employ the controversial
leg theory field
called 'bodyline' now by
the Australian newspapers.
We're ready now for the first
ball of the second Test.
It's an orthodox field.
We have Larwood running
in to bowl to Fingleton.
He runs up now and bowls, and Fingleton
plays it away on the off side
and he and Woodfull are going to
scamper through for a single.
That ball was pitched up right
on the stumps, it wasn't short,
and Australia has a run on the board.
And of course, there are high hopes here
for the Australian hero Don Bradman,
who'll be batting in this match
after missing the first Test
in Sydney through illness.
At the end of the first
over- Australia 0/5,
with Fingleton 5, Woodfull no score.
Sounds like Don won't
be in for a while.
Think I'll put the kettle on.
You'll stay for a cuppa,
won't you, Colin?
Oh, heck, no, Mrs Bradman. I have
to deliver the rest of these.
I'll, uh, see you later, George.
Yes, Col.
And now it's Larwood
to bowl to Fingleton.
It's short, and Fingleton hooks
through the leg-side field.
There'll be a couple here.
It's getting out towards the boundary.
They come back for a second one
and Fingleton runs on to 17.
That's Fingleton, 17. Woodfull, 10.
Australia, 0/27.
Australia going well.
This pitch looks easier-paced than the
one for the first Test in Sydney.
Now, it's back to a
new over from Allen.
He'll be bowling from the
far end to Woodfull,
and Woodfull goes back, and
he's beaten and bowled.
Woodfull is out, and from
0/27, Australia 1/27.
I don't believe it!
Fingleton has put up a marvellous
performance today so far.
He and O'Brien have continued
to resist the fast bowling...
More tea, George?
And the Australian skipper, Bill
Woodfull, has wisely used O'Brien
to take the sting out of Larwood's
attack before Bradman comes in.
So the stage, therefore, is set for
a major innings by Don Bradman.
It's a dogged performance by Fingleton.
He's ready for Larwood again.
The bowler races in, and
this one's a short ball,
and Fingleton's struck again.
And he's not very happy out there
at all, and nor is the crowd.
Bugger off!
Any danger of playing cricket?
The tall Yorkshireman Bowes
to bowl to Fingleton.
Pushed away on the on side.
They go for a run.
Surely this looks like suicide.
The fieldsman there is Wyatt.
The throw looks good.
O'Brien must be run out.
Yes. O'Brien has been run out for 10.
Australia now 2 wickets down for 67.
And the stage here is
set for Don Bradman.
Now we'll see some action.
Good luck, son.
Don!
Little beauty!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman,
Bradman, Bradman!
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman,
Bradman, Bradman, Bradman!
Play has been held up
for 10 minutes already
because of the record crowd with their
tremendous welcome to Don Bradman.
He was supported from the
moment he appeared...
Bill, over.
He then signalled to his slip fieldsmen
to move across to the on side.
Easy, boy.
Howzat?!
I don't believe it.
The off stump. It was
an inviting height.
Bradman tried to step inside of it and
hook it away to the leg-side boundary,
and it must've hit the inside edge
and go back under his stumps.
I can't believe it. Don
Bradman is out first ball.
And I've never seen a scene like
this at a cricket match in my life.
He is walking off the field, and
there's not a single sound.
Don?
I couldn't play another shot
like that for £1 million.
It could've happened to anyone.
But it happened to me, Jessie.
I've let them all down.
And that's the end of England's first
innings on this, the last day of 1932.
Australia leads England by 59 runs
- Australia 228, England 169.
We'll be back on Monday for the
continuation of this
exciting second Test.
Until then, I wish you all a
happy and prosperous new year.
Happy new year! Happy new year, Dad.
Happy new year. Now here's Mother.
- Happy new year, Jessie.
- Happy new year.
Happy new year, Mum.
Happy new year, son.
And, son, how about a
century for the new year?
I'll try!
Yes. You take care.
'Bye. 'Bye.
Happy new year, Jess.
Ah! Don't let me stop you.
- A happy new year to you both.
- Happy new year.
You're being called for, inside.
They want you to give them
a tune on the old goanna.
Ladies and gentlemen, Don Bradman,
the master with the willow,
the maestro of the ivories.
Road to Gundagai.
♪ Along the road to Gundagai... ♪
Two beers, thanks.
Hey. They only serve
Australians here, mate.
It's on me, Raymond. Thank
you very much, Mr Cooper.
Get him pissed, tomorrow
he won't be able
to do a round with a revolving door.
- Happy new year.
- Aye, happy new year.
Your shout, Harold.
Aye. Right.
And two more, thanks. Schooners.
It's nice to see our chaps
enjoying themselves.
As long as it doesn't
affect their performance.
It might help.
If I may say so, Douglas, they've
been under a lot of pressure.
There's been some discontent.
What about? The fact that
we've contained Bradman?
Of course not.
But some of the lads feel you could
be driving Larwood too hard.
Has Larwood complained? No, he hasn't.
And he won't, because
he's a professional.
He knows that he earns his
money playing cricket.
Yes, but the amateurs don't.
Some of them are a little
worried about our tactics.
Who? Gubby?
Well, we all know that
Gubby's a friend of Plum's.
Not just Gubby. There's the Nawab.
It's about time His
Highness learnt there
is one man who decides the tactics,
and that is the captain.
Any man - royal highness or
not - who doesn't accept that
has no place in my team.
Well, I'm just letting you
know what the feelings are.
I know, Bob. It's very good of you.
I suppose...
that's what vice-captains are for.
Right. Thank you, boys.
I think the man has won.
Good on you, mate.
Welcome again to the
Melbourne Cricket Ground
for the third day of play
at this, the second Test.
Australia in a good position here
- a commanding position, in fact-
and they could level
the series at 1-all.
In this huge amphitheatre -
just a vast sea of faces,
and it wouldn't surprise me if
this wasn't a world-record crowd
for a single day of a Test match.
Despite that unfortunate and quite
extraordinary duck by Don Bradman,
Australia recovered well through some
lusty hitting by the tail enders
to make 228.
Then England made a good start,
but they lost 9/61 through the
bowling of O'Reilly and Wall.
They skittled nine
batsmen between them.
All the batsmen, I think, for
Australia must have crossed fingers -
in fact, all Australian supporters.
Course, can their batting line-up
consolidate in this match
after their dismal
performance in Sydney?
And the eyes of the nation are
on Don Bradman in particular.
Not only does the team
need him to make runs,
but he himself must feel it important
to eradicate the memory of
that first-innings duck.
Oooh!
The England fast bowlers are
struggling too on this pitch,
and Captain Jardine must have regrets
about not having the
services of a quality
spin bowler such as Hedley Verity.
But we're watching now,
as Larwood comes in again
to bowl to left-handed O'Brien.
Larwood bowls, O'Brien's beaten,
the off stump goes cartwheeling
out of the ground,
and O'Brien is out.
Three cheers for Don Bradman!
- Hip hip...
- Hooray!
Hooray! Hooray!
And that's an emotional welcome for
Australia's greatest cricketer-
the magnificent Don Bradman.
It's straight through mid-on.
Bradman goes through for a single.
And he's off the pair.
They come back for a second.
And Don Bradman has scored
his first runs of the match,
his first of the series.
No, Douglas.
I see that His Highness is
a conscientious objector.
Yes!
Alright, Harold?
Yes!
Over.
Thanks, George.
What's wrong? Skipper, I
have to change my boot.
It's split. Very well, then.
But hurry up. Right.
Are you alright, Harold?
Aye. Bloody ground's
as hard as concrete.
Oh, dear.
It's been a day of high drama
in the second Test, here at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
And the important news for Australia
is that Don Bradman is not out.
And he gets more runs here.
They take two. They're
coming back for a third run.
And Bradman's score goes on to 30.
And his partner out there is the
Australian captain, Bill Woodfull.
Larwood to bowl to Woodfull.
Short. Woodfull hooks. But a great
catch there on the short leg.
That's Allen, who'd run across.
And Woodfull is out for 26.
Good luck, Napper. Make a few.
Good on you, Napper.
And McCabe has been clean-bowled
by Allen for a duck.
Richardson, on 32, is facing
the bowling of Larwood.
He goes back. He's rapped on the pads.
He's right in front.
Yes, he's out, leg before.
Richardson out for 32.
Australia, 5/135 - a lead of 194.
And the man who could win this match
for Australia is Don Bradman,
but he's running out of partners,
with the Australian wickets tumbling.
Straight bat, Tim.
Tim Wall is Bradman's sixth
batting partner for the day,
and he has the strike
now against Bowes.
Bradman is 83, getting closer and
closer to that elusive century.
But can he do it? It's not
going to be all that easy.
He has only the tail-enders
to support him,
and they're known in
cricket as the 'rabbits'.
And it's Hammond, with his
medium-pacers, to bowl to Wall.
And he's bowled him!
Yes, Wall is out for 3.
And Australia, 8/184.
Larwood bowls to Bradman. He's on 96.
He'll get runs here.
They take a single. He goes to 97.
They're coming back for the second run.
And Bradman goes on to 98.
But why did he take that second run?
That was the last ball of the over.
He'll lose the strike.
Over!
Thanks, George.
Hammond to bowl to O'Reilly.
That's an edge, and it's gone
through to Ames, the keeper.
And, yes, he's out, caught.
Australia, 9/186.
And only Ironmonger to come in.
And Bradman is 98.
Thanks, Napper. I'll owe you one.
Dainty, it's your missus.
The wife? Tell her to hang on.
Don't joke about it.
Don't even try to hit the ball
unless it's absolutely necessary.
Just hold out till the end of the over.
I'll be right.
Good luck, mate. He'll
call you back, love.
Don's in trouble now, son.
Not Dainty. Not the Ferret. Huh.
Mr Ironmonger doesn't look
much like a ferret to me.
That's what they call him.
It'll be alright, son.
I won't let you down.
Well, most bowlers, you see, they
can't bat to save their lives.
They come in at the end of the innings.
They're called 'rabbits'.
Now, Dainty, they call
him 'the Ferret'...
because he goes in after the rabbits.
Right arm over. Three balls to come.
Three?!
Another coat of varnish...
you would've been out.
And you're a Pommy bastard.
Ironmonger somehow
survived that first ball.
There are still two balls left in this
over from Hammond, and
Don Bradman is 98.
I can't bear to listen.
The ball's back with Hammond,
at the end of his bowling run.
Ironmonger crouching over his bat.
A hushed silence here round the ground.
Hammond starts to move in.
Comes up, and he bowls.
And through to the keeper.
It was short.
No stroke offered by Ironmonger.
One ball left in the over.
Jardine brings in the field.
Go a little easy on us,
will you, old fella?
One ball left in this dramatic over.
Not a sound around this ground.
Hammond... to Ironmonger.
It's off the bat. It's in the air!
Jardine dives. It was a
catch, but he's dropped it.
He couldn't take it.
And Don Bradman has a
chance to reach that 100.
Well played, Dainty!
It's the end of the over...
It's alright. Ironmonger's survived.
They lead now by 245.
But the important thing is that
Don Bradman has the strike
and a chance to make that hundred...
Now Don's got his chance.
After his first-ball duck
in the first innings.
Bowl them short. Dig them in.
Bowl them wide.
Anything so he can't get any runs.
We'll get Ironmonger down this end.
Very good, skipper.
Bradman crouched down over his bat.
The bowler is Voce.
Jardine taking a long
time to place his field.
Voce to Bradman.
He's pulled round the on side.
There'll be runs here.
He sets off for the first one.
That takes him to 99.
They're coming back now for the second.
A chase there for
Larwood, who's limping.
No. They come back for the second one.
That's Bradman's hundred.
He wants a third.
Larwood has it just inside the fence.
They're going for the third run.
The return comes back. And
Bradman will get home.
It comes back to the bowler's end.
And Bradman dives.
I think he's safe. And Don
Bradman has reached his century!
And the crowd goes absolutely wild!
He's done it. Don Bradman, 101 not out.
Australia, 9/189. He's done it!
He's done it! One of the greatest
centuries ever seen on this ground.
Good on you, Don!
He's done it! He's done it!
He's done it!
♪ Who is it that all
Australia raves about? ♪
Listen. Listen.
Come and listen to the wireless!
♪ We know he's just a country boy
♪ But he's bringing down the house
♪ And he's our Don Bradman
♪ Now, I ask you, is he any good?
♪ Our Don Bradman
♪ As a batsman, he is
certainly plum pud... ♪
And just listen to this.
I ask you, is he any good?!
Is he any good?!
♪ Our Don Bradman
♪ As a batsman, he is plum pud! ♪
Onya, Don!
And that's it. England all out for 139.
And that ties the Test series at 1-all.
Australia has won the
second Test by 111 runs.
And just listen to that mighty reception
out there for the local team,
here at the Melbourne ground.
What a proud, proud day for Australia.
Hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!
Hip hip, hooray!
Are you coming to
congratulate the Australians?
If you'll permit me one
small observation...
Alright. I miscalculated.
But the wicket was doctored.
What are you saying? That the curator
would deliberately go out...
That wicket was
deliberately underprepared.
Whether the curator acted under
instructions or not, I cannot say.
I fear you are making excuses for
your own errors of judgement.
I warned you against acting rashly.
And I told you that I shall be making
the tactical decisions on this tour.
Your obsession with Bradman has
clouded all your decision-making,
and that is the reason
we have lost this Test!
Well, I shall not allow that situation
to repeat itself in Adelaide.
Excuse me, Mr Jardine. Yes, what is it?
Well, I... I've just discovered I'm to
play in the social match at the weekend.
Yes. You're to be the twelfth man.
Aye, well...
I thought I might have a bit
of time off before Adelaide.
What were you planning to do?
Well, I... I was simply just
hoping to rest my feet.
I had to leave the field four
times in the second Test.
Yes, I'm well aware of it. You spent
an hour away from the game, all told.
Aye, but I still bowled more
overs than anyone else.
You would've bowled a lot more if you
hadn't been off the field so often.
I couldn't help it. My
boots kept splitting.
I bowled as hard as I could.
No, you didn't. None of you did.
That's why Bradman scored his century
and the Australians won the Test.
Voce and Bowes aren't in
this social team, though.
Harold, listen to me.
You are my principal weapon,
the spearhead of my attack.
Not Voce and Bowes.
I want you fit for Adelaide.
Fitter, faster and meaner
than you've ever been.
So I'm to be twelfth man, then?
No.
No, you can play.
And I expect to see you at
the practice nets tomorrow.
Aye. Right.
He's gone mad.
Stark raving mad.
Oh, you've just realised that?
Aye. He thinks he owns
us, body and soul.
We are being paid, Harold.
Yeah, but not very bloody much.
Stop moaning, Bill.
Aye. Don't warrant treatment like this.
Anyway, the amateurs
are fed up with him,
so they'd better watch out in Adelaide.
I'll stay. I'll have one.
Like tossing a cake of soap.
Knock that beach ball
off his nut, Harold!
Onya, Don!
Oooh!
In for a duck.
Well bowled, Harold.
Can we have your autograph, Mr Bradman?
A bit later, fellas.
Take it easy, Don. It's
only practice, you know.
Onya, Bradman!
Hey, fancy cap. Have a look
at the boy next to you.
He'll show you how it's done.
Did Mummy call you, son?
Wanted on the phone, are you?
Can't take it, eh?
I want this rabble excluded
from all further practice.
What the... But the public is always...
I did not come all this way to provide
free entertainment for the masses.
I do not want them here after lunch.
Come on, now. Out youse go.
Come on, fellas.
Hey. What's all this?
No spectators allowed. Says who?
Orders of the Cricket
Board and Sardine.
Go to buggery. We'll see about this.
I can go anywhere. I'm the press.
Yeah, I know, Chook. In...
No, look, Jonesy, you can't... Uh...
Hang on. He's, uh... he's alright.
He's me... photographer.
Who's that? Your assistant?
Never seen him before in my life.
Stay.
Alright. But don't you
cause any trouble, Jonesy.
I'm sorry. Sorry, boys.
Sorry, mates. Sorry.
Douglas, there are some members of the
press outside who want a statement.
Practice is for the players,
not for the public.
I certainly don't wish to
speak to the press about it.
My dear chap, we cannot afford
to risk any further bad blood.
We have already come under attack
for our tactics on the field.
I shall settle that
matter once and for all.
Show them in.
Everything we have done has been
well within the laws of cricket.
We have placed a more difficult field
than is ordinarily
employed with fast bowling
and have been successful in curbing
the activities of the batsmen.
But I can assure you that there
is nothing new in this stratagem,
nor any graver danger
than in any other.
Bull.
It has been successful so far,
and Mr Warner and I hope that
it will go on being successful.
Is that right, Mr Warner?
You support the tactics of Mr Jardine and
in particular this bodyline bowling?
W-w-well, um...
as Mr Jardine says, it is, uh...
a legitimate form of leg theory.
Would this be the same 'leg theory'
that you derided in the Morning
Post of August 22, 1932?
And I quote...
"These tactics should be deplored.
"With five men on the leg side,
the balls were short-pitched
"and frequently bounced
head-high and more.
"If all fast bowlers were
to adopt these methods,
"there would be trouble
and plenty of it.
"This is not bowling. Indeed,
it is not even cricket."
Now, in light of that
article, Mr Warner,
would you say that you describe the
current English attack to be cricket?
Well, the, uh, circumstances were
entirely different in London and...
Oh. How different? Well, um...
If you'd researched a
little further, Mr Cooper,
you would have discovered that
I was playing in that match
and I faced that leg theory field.
The circumstances then, as Mr
Warner correctly points out,
were completely different.
Oh. Would you care to define
the difference, Mr Jardine?
No. I would not.
And the people of Adelaide,
I welcome you all,
and we hope that your stay in our
fair city will be indeed a happy one.
Hear, hear.
Good Lord.
A little cooler out here.
It's a little quieter, anyway.
The sun would be just now
setting at my home in India.
It truly never sets upon
the British Empire.
You are very much the empire
man, aren't you, Douglas?
Ah, it's what makes we British
the greatest race on earth.
We must all have the
courage of our convictions
and do what we think best.
But we must play the
game by the rules too.
By the rules, yes. But also to win.
Winning is everything to you, isn't it?
No, Pati. But I see
no honour in defeat.
What do you want of me, Douglas?
Simply your support on the field.
The field of honour?
I cannot play your way, Douglas.
I'm your captain.
Surely you'll agree to
abide by my decisions?
If I can't?
Then I should prefer it if
you didn't play at all.
Then... that is how it must be.
I cannot play your way,
Douglas, my friend.
You will never play Test cricket again.
Then I bid you goodnight.