4. Bodyline II: The Rivalry Turns Nasty (Again)

Explicit content warning

06/14/23 • 32 min

The Australian batsman Vic Richardson played in the first Bodyline series and was terrorised by the English bowlers. His grandson was the gimlet-eyed Australian captain Ian Chappell. Having heard so many of his grandfather’s stories, he vowed revenge.

In 1974/5 he unleashed the marauding Dennis Lillee and the supersonic Jeff Thomson on England – the fastest, nastiest pair of bowlers in history. England were battered to a chastening defeat.

We hear from Ian Chappell as he explains the joy he took in exacting revenge for his grandfather whilst David Lloyd tells a hilarious story of being hit in the box and knocking the ‘dints’ out in the changing room before his next innings.

In 1974/5 he unleashed the marauding Dennis Lillee and the supersonic Jeff Thomson on England – the fastest, nastiest pair of bowlers in history. England were battered to a chastening defeat.

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3. Bodyline

The 1932/3 Ashes in Australia was one of the most volatile contests in sporting history.

This was down to the phenomenon that was Donald Bradman and England’s desperate attempts to stop him scoring masses of runs, something they were far too familiar with at that point.

The plan was a revenge mission called Leg Theory, which involved targeting Bradman’s body with quick, hostile bowling.

The brutal approach created bad blood between the sides, a near riot in Adelaide and even forced prime ministers to get involved just to keep the series going.

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5. Botham’s Ashes

In 1981 Ian Botham became a national sporting hero.

From the depths of despair after being sacked as England captain, he fought back to lead a remarkable resurgence. All while playing some of the most scintillating cricket the game had ever seen.

In this episode you'll hear from the key protagonists of one of English crickets finest moments. Botham himself explains how he managed to transform his mindset after being unceremoniously stripped of the captaincy.

His replacement as captain, Mike Brearley, reveals how he used his training as a psychologist to recapture the best from Botham. Bob Willis takes us into that incredible game at Headingley, the turning point for the series, and England batsman Mike Gatting recalls how Botham found a cheeky way to rub salt in the wounds of the Australians - by commandeering their champagne.