Famous Cricketers No 57 - W. M. Woodfull

125. AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, Sydney, December 18, 19, 21 (Australia won by an innings and 155 runs) c B.Mitchell b C.L.Vincent 58 469 153 161 1 126. Victoria v New South Wales, Melbourne, December 24, 26, 28, 29 (Victoria won by three wickets) lbw W.J.O’Reilly 2 103 276 c and b B.M.Salmon 147 435-7 260 127. AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, Melbourne, December 31, January 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 (Australia won by 169 runs) c H.B.Cameron b A.J.Bell 7 198 358 c B.Mitchell b Q.McMillan 161 554 225 128. AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, Adelaide, January 29, 30, February 1, 2 (Australia won by ten wickets) c D.P.B.Morkel b A.J.Bell 82 513 308 not out 37 73-0 274 129. Victoria v South Africans, Melbourne, February (6), 8, 9, (10) (Match drawn) run out (X.C.Balaskas/H.B.Cameron) 44 231 239 not out 73 158-0 130. AUSTRALIA v SOUTH AFRICA, Melbourne, February 12, (13), 15 (Australia won by an innings and 72 runs) b A.J.Bell 0 153 36 45 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct Test matches 5 7 1 421 161 70.16 1 3 1 Sheffield Shield 2 4 0 190 147 47.50 1 - - Other matches 2 4 1 238 121 79.33 1 1 - Season 9 15 2 849 161 65.30 3 4 1 Career 130 184 34 10589 284 70.59 41 44 69 1932/33 This was to be the worst season of Woodfull’s career. The MCC tour was rated as “one of the most acrimonious and controversial tours of all time. Jardine’s insistence on the use of packed leg-side field placings and fast short-pitched bowling at the body of the Australian batsmen … was deeply resented for its malicious and unsporting nature.” From any viewpoint, be it runs, average or enjoyment, this was a terrible season for Woodfull. His form in Shield matches was reasonable, but high scores eluded him. This was to be the only season in which Woodfull did not record a century. This lack of form followed him, he could not even score a century in Club cricket. There were good reasons for the lack of runs. Bodyline, with all its attendant problems, was designed to curb Bradman’s phenomenal scoring. To an extent it did, but Woodfull was swept up in this as well. It was Woodfull who bore the brunt of Bodyline. No batsman faced as many balls as he did, no one batted for as long (19 hours) against Bodyline as Woodfull did, no one was hit as many times as Woodfull was. As Robinson said “When Bodyline was tearing the tripe out of his team, no batsman suffered greater punishment than Woodfull, yet he stood up to the attack for hours longer than any other player.” Throughout this trying season, Woodfull “retained his dignity and the overriding respect of his team mates and the Australian public” . According to Bradman “Woodfull refused to retaliate on the grounds that it would be detrimental to the game of cricket”. His only reaction was his alleged eloquent rebuke to Pelham Warner – “(that) there are two teams out there but only one of them is playing cricket”. That Test series was “a great strain and no doubt hastened Woodfull’s retirement”. After failing in the first two Tests, Woodfull developed a method of playing Bodyline which was not pretty to watch and practically ensured he received severe physical punishment. If he could not safely play the ball, he let it hit him. His methods worked to the extent that he passed 60 in each of the last three Tests. He showed great courage with his resolute batting. This was exemplified in the Third Test. Woodfull carried his bat for the fourth time (73*) against an English team and for the second time in a Test. Woodfull thus became the first batsman to carry his bat through a Test innings twice. A 25