Lives in Cricket No 18 - FR Foster

on 11 March 1933, to all the Australian newspapers. [See later excerpt from article in Smith’s Weekly for 18 March.] I have also expressed my view on a Colombia gramophone record DB 1140, with Larwood starring on the other side, whereon I said that it was my considered opinion that there is great danger in body-line bowling. The integrity of English cricket must be above reproach; unfortunately the good name was sadly besmirched in Australia in 1932/33. We must win back that honour. Foster then suggests the onus be put on the captains to warn, or remove, any of his bowlers seeking to exploit body-line bowling. Foster also appeared in the Australian press, in the 18 March issue of Smith’s Weekly, a patriotic weekly tabloid published in Sydney. 67 Under banner headlines ‘English Bombshell at Douglas Jardine’, Foster was quoted as saying that England ‘is shamed by the victory’. The article went on: Jardine is welcome to The Ashes, at the price England paid for them. Say this from me to the captain of the England XI in Australia: ‘Douglas Jardine, I am ashamed of England’s win. I will face you on your return with these words on my lips. You allowed Woodfull to beat you in every sense of the word Cricket. Woodfull won the Second Test by clean methods. We won our four matches by other methods. I take my hat off to Woodfull for resisting the temptation to retaliate in body-line bowling. Cricket history has no finer example of sportsmanship. My name has been used in the body-line controversy, in connection with Warner’s tour of 1911/12. I indignantly repudiate the suggestion that I ever used body-line bowling. I have struck men by accident. What fast bowler hasn’t? But I never deliberately sent the ball at a batsman’s head or body. I aimed always for good length balls. Batsmen like Hobbs or Macartney were never struck by me, because they knew how to use their feet.’ Being a left-handed bowler, I never once in my whole cricket career bowled over the wicket. A left-arm bowler, bowling over the wicket, immediately becomes a body-liner for he cannot possibly see the three stumps. Body-line bowling is quite different from the leg-theory, which I understand and which I bowled. I am sorry that Nottingham, through Larwood and Voce, figures so conspicuously in the cloud surrounding England’s victory. Allen has proved himself a perfect gentleman and on his ability and sportsmanship he should be England’s captain. Allen displayed strength of character in resisting Jardine’s ‘body-line’ influence. I greatly regret Larwood’s actions. As the finest fast bowler England has seen in thirty years he is too good to resort to any kind of leg theory. Unless MCC does uphold the protest from the Australian Board of The shambolic 1930s 102 67 One of its founders was Clyde Packer, grandfather of one Kerry.