Lives in Cricket No 48 - Maurice Leyland

illustrates the nature of the man but also the solidarity which seems to have existed among England’s Bodyline participants. In 1939 Maurice told Jim Kilburn: “I wasn’t involved in any selection meetings but I don’t believe that the MCC team was chosen with the campaign of leg theory in mind”: To the best of my knowledge it was simply a case of the tactics being designed to suit the playing strength available rather than the players being chosen to fit in with some pre-conceived plan. I certainly knew nothing of the scheme until we arrived Against the best 88 A tour of Australia was far from all work; right, Maurice swings; below, team-mates and well-wishers on the golf course