Rebuilding Australia's Bond with Britain: The Role of Female Cricketers Following the Bodyline Era

In the summer of 1932-33, Douglas Jardine, the captain of the English cricket team visiting Australia, devised a strategy to counter the exceptional run-scoring abilities of Australian batting legend Don Bradman. Jardine instructed his four fast bowlers to aim at Bradman rather than focusing on hitting the wicket.

This tactic gave Australian batsmen a difficult choice: either endure being hit or risk getting out. The English team ultimately won the Ashes and returned home triumphant. However, this controversial approach sparked outrage among Australian spectators, the press, former players, and the general public. The controversy surrounding the "Bodyline" series dominated conversations at workplaces, public transportation, and homes. It even reached parliament and religious sermons.

The aftermath of the series caused a significant strain in relations between Australia and England and posed a threat to the unity of the empire during the challenging times of the Great Depression. The story combines elements of cricket, politics, deception, audacity, intense emotions, and danger, making it a captivating tale in the world of sports. Numerous books, mini-series, and films have explored the key figures involved, delving into their motivations, fears, and the consequences of their actions.

However, it is worth noting that the story has traditionally been portrayed from a male perspective, with all the major figures being men, including Bradman, Woodfull, Oldfield, Jardine, and Larwood, as well as the members of the Marylebone Cricket Club, the Australian Cricket Board, past players, and the gentlemen of the press.

Yet, cricket has always been a sport that appeals to and attracts participants and fans of all genders. In Australian folklore, there is a well-known anecdote about a young Don Bradman using a wooden stump to hit a golf ball against the base of a water tank. However, it is less commonly known that his mother, Emily Whatman, regularly bowled left-arm deliveries to him every afternoon after school. This highlights the fact that cricket has not been exclusively reserved for male players and spectators.

Legacy of Women in the Game of CricketС

Women's participation in cricket can be traced back to the mid-18th century in England (1745) and the mid-19th century in Australia (1855). During the 1890s, Emily Whatman was among a group of passionate female players.

The growing interest in cricket among women resulted in the establishment of national cricket associations exclusively for women in England in 1926 and in Australia in 1931.

In England, the women took a distinct path by forming their separate cricket community. They faced opposition from the male-dominated establishment and the English media. Led by affluent and upper-class women, they created cricket grounds on their properties, organised their competitions, excluded male umpires, declined to participate in mixed-gender matches, and even published their subscription magazine called Women's Cricket to control the narrative surrounding their sport.

However, the situation was different in Australia, as cricket's growth was influenced by a cooperative relationship between men and women. Women and girls from all social classes were welcomed to participate in the game. Numerous young women acquired their cricket skills by playing street games alongside boys and men.

Two notable Australian players, Peggy Antonio, an exceptional leg-spin bowler, and Anne Palmer, a skilled left-arm seamer, remembered how they improved their abilities by strategising ways to dismiss local boys. They were aware that the boys could handle fast bowling throughout the day.

In 1931, women in New South Wales established their indoor practice nets, which were open to anyone interested. Additionally, many women and girls attended the coaching school organised by Fred Griffiths near Central Station in Sydney. There, they trained and played alongside men and boys. Amy Hudson, an up-and-coming medium-fast bowler, fondly recalled the excitement she experienced while bowling to the brilliant batsman Archie Jackson, a local boy from Balmain.

Women's club cricket matches in Melbourne, particularly those involving Collingwood and Clarendon, drew crowds of male spectators, with many passionately rooting for their favourite "heroines" on the field and even placing bets on the game's outcomes.

In 1927, Margaret Peden, the captain of the Australian cricket team, played a pivotal role in establishing the women's team at Sydney University. Her father, Sir John Peden, held prestigious positions as a law professor at the university and as the president of the NSW Legislative Council. The Peden family name carried significant respect, which opened doors for the women's cricket team. Matches that combined students and staff at the university attracted the attention of professors, who took a break from their desks to support the games. Former Test cricketers Charlie Macartney and Dr Eric Barbour also showed their support.

The participation of women in cricket gained widespread recognition. Keith Murdoch, working at the Melbourne Herald, hired Pat Jarrett, a versatile sportswoman, cricketer, and journalist, to write a weekly column on women and sports. The column became immensely popular. In June 1933, the Australian Women's Weekly, a new magazine, was launched, featuring a double-page spread on sports written by journalist and cricketer Ruth Preddey. Other newspapers followed suit and began covering women's cricket as well.

An Extraordinary Achievement

Jarrett conveyed the viewpoints of Australia's top female athletes regarding the Bodyline series to her readers. Women spectators, who were present in significant numbers at men's games, expressed their discontent with the actions of the English bowlers by writing letters to major newspapers' editors. In South Australia, women players prohibited the use of bodyline tactics in their own games. The voices and opinions of women were widely acknowledged and reported.

In the summer of 1934, when the eagerly anticipated English women's team, led by captain and lawyer Betty Archdale, arrived in Australia for the inaugural Test series between the two nations, many were focused on the opportunity to regain public confidence in the game of cricket. The Australian press, in particular, relentlessly questioned the captain and her manager about Bodyline.

During the same year, the Duke of Gloucester embarked on a tour, ostensibly to commemorate Victoria's state centenary. However, there were speculations that the tour also aimed to improve diplomatic relations between Australia and Great Britain. The press was strictly prohibited from inquiring about Bodyline to the royal visitor.

The close connections and lasting relationships between Australian and English women were evident during their cricket tour. These connections ranged from personal ties between players and officials to those established among international women's organisations.

The English women competed in matches across different regions in Australia, including Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Canberra. By the end of the series, the tour was widely hailed as a tremendous success by the press, players, spectators, the general public, and even local mayors.

Numerous Australian players created comprehensive scrapbooks documenting their cricketing experiences and collected meaningful mementoes that highlighted the connections among the great cricketers of the 1930s, both male and female. It was an era characterised by mutual respect among the country's top cricketers.

Women players received enduring support from several male cricket champions, notably Charlie Macartney, Bill O'Reilly, Arthur Mailey, Stan McCabe, and Alan Kippax.

Many people regarded women as equal partners in cricket, acknowledging their significant role in consigning the Bodyline era to history.

The Vital Role of Women in Saving Cricket

Neglecting women's participation in cricket during the 1930s, particularly in relation to the Bodyline controversy, overlooks a significant portion of the overall narrative. The women's involvement played a pivotal role in restoring cricket's damaged reputation through personal connections, hospitality, and shared goals. Not only did their tour contribute greatly to repairing relations between the two countries, but it also paved the way for cricket to regain its reputation as a sport characterised by fair play and sportsmanship.

On the field, the women captivated both audiences and the media with their exceptional skills and profound understanding of the game. Match after match, they exemplified that elite, competitive cricket could still be played in a respectful and civilised manner.

Off the field, they charmed their way across Australia, forging positive relationships. This led to the planning of a return series in England in 1937. Following the tumultuous Bodyline summer of 1932-33, cricket had suffered a severe blow to its reputation. However, these women's teams emerged as a heartwarming success story that helped restore their standing.

The fact that a major controversy in Australian sport has been extensively discussed for almost a century without acknowledging the crucial intersections between men's and women's cricket and the pivotal role of women raises important questions. It prompts us to consider what other aspects of sporting narratives may have been overlooked and warrant closer examination and reevaluation.