Larwood's 33 Wickets — The Bodyline Series Tally, 1932-33

Larwood, 28, was the fastest bowler in England in 1932. Jardine had spent the spring planning Bodyline using Frank Foster's input on field placings. Larwood, Voce, Bowes and Allen formed the pace attack; Allen refused to bowl Bodyline.

Larwood arrived in Australia in October 1932 in good health and rhythm; he bowled menacingly in tour matches and was the focal point of every Australian preview by November.

Larwood arrived in Australia in October 1932 carrying Jardine's leg-theory plan. He bowled at speeds that reliable witnesses placed at 95-plus mph: short, fast, on-line-of-the-body, with five-eight men on the leg side. His series record reads:

First Test (Sydney): 5/96 and 5/28 — Australia lost despite McCabe 187*. Bradman absent. Second Test (Melbourne): 2/52 and 2/50 — Bradman bowled first ball by Bowes; Australia won. Third Test (Adelaide): 3/55 and 4/71 — Woodfull struck over heart, Oldfield's skull fractured. Fourth Test (Brisbane): 4/101 and 3/49 — England win, Ashes regained. Fifth Test (Sydney): 4/98 and 1/44 — Larwood breaks foot, makes 98 with bat.

Total: 33 wickets at 19.51 from 220.2 overs. Bradman, whom Bodyline was specifically designed to neutralise, fell to him four times in five matches and averaged 56.57 across the series — half his career figure. The plan worked precisely as designed; the diplomatic damage was the price.

No English fast bowler since has taken more in an away Ashes series; the closest is Frank Tyson's 28 in 1954-55 at 20.82.

“Larwood was the fastest I ever saw, by some way.”

“He bowled with the menace of a man who knew his job.”

Larwood missed most of 1933, refused to apologise for Bodyline in 1934, and never played another Test. His 33-wicket tour was the apex of a Test career that ended at 28. He emigrated to Sydney in 1950.