This seven-part Australian miniseries from the Kennedy-Miller production team presented a dramatisation of the 1932/33 Ashes cricket series between England and Australia.
Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in cricketing history for the fact that the English team – headed by captain Douglas Jardine (Hugo Weaving in his first major role) – applied an intimidatory bowling technique called “leg theory” (or “bodyline” as the Australians call it) to curb Donald Bradman’s freakish batting and win back the Ashes.
The technique involved bowling the ball directly at the batsman’s body, resulting in many of the Australian team receiving injuries, with batsman Bert Oldfield (Les Dayman) sustaining a cracked skull and creating much anger and resentment towards the English team within Australia.
A large amount of dramatic license is taken with the facts, and the $5 million series was criticised by those who had participated and were still alive.
If you’re not interested in cricket or don’t understand it, this series has nothing for you.
Douglas Jardine
Hugo Weaving Donald Bradman
Gary Sweet Harold Larwood
Jim Holt Pelham Warner
Rhys McConnochie Percy George Fender
John Gregg Edith
Heather Mitchell Bill Woodfull
John Walton Eddie Paynter
Alan David Lee Bob Wyatt
Terry Bader Nawab of Pataudi
Ashok Banthia Bill Voce
Richard Carter Les Ames
Peter Dahlsen Gubby Allen
John Doyle Herbert Sutcliffe
Mark Hope Maurice Leyland
Michael Jay George Duckworth
Bernard Ledger Wally Hammond
Doug Middleton Hedley Verity
Ron Stephenson Bill Bowes
Bill Young Bert Oldfield
Les Dayman Alan Kippax
Stewart Faichney Leo O’Brien
Robert Giltinan Bill O’Reilly
Ross Hall Tim Wall
Scott Lowe Jack Fingleton
Ned Manning Richardson
Michael O’Neill Grimmett
Peter Philpott Bill Ponsford
John Sheerin Stan McCabe
Michael Winchester Harvey
Simon Burvill-Holmes Prime Minister Lyons
Vincent Ball Master Clements
Alan Becher Arthur Carr
Jerry Carter George
Basil Clarke Mr Bradman
John Clayton Mrs Bradman
Colleen Fitzpatrick Vic Bradman
Noel Hodda Young Bradman
Mark Kounnas Lord Jackson
Colin Croft Mrs Larwood
Celia De Burgh Mr Jardine
Arthur Dignam Mrs Jardine
Jane Harders Wigram
Reg Gillam Oxlade
Peter Gwynne Chapman
Frank Haines Lord Hailsham
Edward Howell Packer
Brian McDermott Bert Ironmonger
Laurie Moran Jeanes
Bruce Myles Jessie
Julie Nihill Sinclair Lewis
Dean Nottle Captain Longford
Norman Phillips Andrew Lang
John Spicer Crutchley
Bruce Stewart Lord Harris
Frank Thring Sir Reevers Randall Rogers
Tony Wager Lady Randall Rogers
Bettina Welch Lord Hawke
George Whaley Robertson
Peter Whitford
Video
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Played in Australia, the series gained notoriety in cricketing history for the fact that the English team – headed by captain Douglas Jardine (Hugo Weaving in his first major role) – applied an intimidatory bowling technique called “leg theory” (or “bodyline” as the Australians call it) to curb Donald Bradman’s freakish batting and win back the Ashes.
