In this episode of Bodyline, Oldfield gets hit on the head and everyone finally realizes just how dangerous Jardine’s Bodyline leg theory is.
Woodfall and the entire Australian team threaten to resign unless the ACB takes steps to ban the tactic. All the ACB does is send a strongly worded protest cable to the MCC at Lords. The MCC get an official of the Crown involved and have him send the British High Commissioner to the Australian Prime Minister to try to smooth things over.
The Prime Minister agrees to twist the ACB’s collective arm into resuming the test series, if the English can convince Jardine to moderate his usage of the tactic. An incensed Jardine now threatens to take the entire team and abandon the series unless the ACB withdraw their strongly worded complaint.
It appears that no one will back down for now.
Tropes found here are
- Berserk Button: The MCC balks at the accusation of "unsportsmanlike" behaviour, and threatens to abandon the tour if it isn't retracted. Douglas' parentage is also one.
- Cluster F-Bomb: The crowd at the Adelaide test when things turn nasty. The police were brought in to protect the English players — although even they are depicted as joining in the chant of "Bastard! Bastard! Bastard!"
- It's been said that if one person had jumped the fence in that moment, the entire crowd would have followed.
- And, "Which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?"
- Pay Evil unto Evil: Richardson suggests that the Australians try using the Bodyline tactic against the English. Captain Woodfull refuses. note
- Tap on the Head: Realistically portrayed. Oldfield gets struck in the forehead by a short pitched (non Bodyline) delivery. He collapses, has to be helped off the field and taken to hospital where it is revealed that he fractured his skull.
