History Series / Bodyline

* LieBackAndThinkOfEngland: Douglas' girlfriend says that she does this when he starts talking about cricket.

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: The real Harold Larwood, who had since emigrated to Australia, received [[FanDumb hate mail]] on the series' airing, despite his relatively sympathetic portrayal and the consensus that Jardine bore the blame.

* DeadpanSnarker: Vic Richardson, who delivers the above CMOF.
** Chook even more so. "Anyone for tennis?"
* TheDeterminator: Eddie Paynter in the final episode.
* EvilBrit: Obviously.
* GenteelInterbellumSetting: At least to some extent.

Takes its time, particularly at the beginning; the first episode is more or less an extended prologue. The first match of the series doesn't even start until episode 3. But while it takes a few liberties with the facts, it's very good at setting the historical scene. Stars HugoWeaving as English captain Douglas Jardine.

* BlueBlood: Jardine.

* TheObiWan: Lord Harris to Jardine.
** Complete with FamousLastWords and MentorOccupationalHazard — although he dies a natural death, it inspires Jardine to do him proud.

Australian TV miniseries from 1984, retelling the story of the "Bodyline" {{cricket}} series from 1932-33. The English team had developed an unusual — and highly dangerous — tactic to counter the seemingly unstoppable Australian batsman Don Bradman. Bodyline involved bowling very fast and short, bouncing the ball toward the batsman's shoulder, and keeping several fielders close in behind him to catch him out if he attempted to play it. Several players were struck and injured, and the violence of the tactic nearly caused a diplomatic incident between England and Australia.

* CompletelyMissingThePoint: The real Harold Larwood received [[FanDumb hate mail]] on the series' airing, despite his relatively sympathetic portrayal and the consensus that Jardine bore the blame.

* UpperClassWit: Percy tries to be this, but he's more just a straight [[TheDandy Dandy]].

* BadBoss: Jardine in the last episode, forcing Paynter and Larwood to play through injury and illness and holding their wages over their heads. [[hottip:*:But at least one member of the team also admitted that "if it ever comes to a fight to the death, I want the skipper on my side"]]

* PayEvilUntoEvil: Richardson suggests that the Australians try using the Bodyline tactic against the English. Captain Woodfull refuses. [[hottip:*:Out of principle or because Australian fast-bowling resources were thin that season? You decide. A few seasons earlier England were welcome to all the bumps and bruises they liked against the Australians [=McDonald=] and Gregory. During one of the non-Test matches on the tour, Jardine was knocked off his feet by a fast ball from Aboriginal bowler Eddy Gilbert, which hit him on the hip-bone. He thanked the Australians who asked if he was all right, put his cap back on and continued batting. When he was out, and safely behind a closed dressing-room door, he swore extremely loudly and all but collaped; his team-mates removed his trousers to reveal a bloody weal the size of a saucer. Jardine had his faults, but had more than stomach enough for his own medicine.]]
* PoorCommunicationKills: Well, not ''kills'', exactly, but the only reason the MCC did nothing to curb Jardine was that they couldn't actually see what he was doing. When the West Indies used Bodyline in England later that year, they finally realised what all the fuss was about. [[hottip:*:This was Jardine's cue to stand up to the bowling of Constantine and Martindale and make the only hundred of his international career, proving that even Bodyline was surmountable to a batsman of skill, courage and technique. More -- when wicketkeeper Ames was visibly in trouble, Jardine arranged to take most of the strike himself.]]

* [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Screw This, I'm Outta Here!]]: Jonesy, when Oldfield is hit.[[hottip:*:not by a "Bodyline" delivery, and Oldfield candidly admitted it was his own fault.]] Particularly meaningful given he had earlier said that he would go along to the last day of a match even though it would almost certainly be over in a few minutes.

* PayEvilUntoEvil: Richardson suggests that the Australians try using the Bodyline tactic against the English. Captain Woodfull refuses. [[hottip:*:Out of principle or because Australian fast-bowling resources were thin that season? You decide. A few seasons earlier England were welcome to all the bumps and bruises they liked against the Australians McDonald and Gregory. During one of the non-Test matches on the tour, Jardine was knocked off his feet by a fast ball from Aboriginal bowler Eddy Gilbert, which hit him on the hip-bone. He thanked the Australians who asked if he was all right, put his cap back on and continued batting. When he was out, and safely behind a closed dressing-room door, he swore extremely loudly and all but collaped; his team-mates removed his trousers to reveal a bloody weal the size of a saucer. Jardine had his faults, but had more than stomach enough for his own medicine.]]

* BadBoss: Jardine in the last episode, forcing Paynter and Larwood to play through injury and illness and holding their wages over their heads.

* PoorCommunicationKills: Well, not ''kills'', exactly, but the only reason the MCC did nothing to curb Jardine was that they couldn't actually see what he was doing. When the West Indies used Bodyline in England later that year, they finally realised what all the fuss was about. [[hottip:*:This was Jardine's cue to stand up to the bowling of Constantine and Martindale and make the only hundred of his international career, proving that even Bodyline was surmountable to a batsman of skill, courage and technique.]]

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