Aamir Uppal on International Cricket

Larwood Makes A Clean Break From The Adelaide Obsessions

-         Muhammed Aamir Uppal –

-         Pakistani Cricketer (Sept. 1993)

It would have been unthinkable a few decades ago that a cricketer, whose career had been curtailed on the charges of backstabbing on gamesmanship, be awarded the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire. A bowler of intimidatory repute, who could never break away from his 'Bodyline' links, from a vital part of the darkest episode in the history of the game. Lithe and hollow-cheeked Larwood with a medium height never gave the looks of a fast bowler at first sight when he entered big-time cricket in 1925. But it was his perfectly-balanced run-up that gave him accuracy of the highest degree in his bowling. Despite the fact that his accuracy and perfectly copybook style enabled him to derive lethal pace, it was not until he became the effective instrument of Douglas Jardine's Bodyline ploy that success came to him. Earlier, his only major success had also been in Australia, when accompanying A.P.F. Chapman's side of 1928-29, he had match figures of 8-62 and remarkable contributions of 70 and 37 with the bat in the first Test at Brisbane. On the much talked-about 1932-33 tour Down Under he shared the ball with 'Gubby' Allen and Bill Voce. Larwood's short and fast ball coupled with occasional yorkers became so devastating that even a batsman of Don Bradman's calibre failed to maintain his average. But then all this had been made possible only due to the negative tactics of Jardine which Larwood effectively employed. Larwood took 33 wickets in five Tests at 19.51 apiece and in the last match at Sydney hammered his career-best (98) as nightwatchman but, by the end of the series, irreparable damage had been done to the game. So much so that the diplomatic rela- tions between the two countries had come to the breaking point and it also put an end to his career. Many English experts still maintain his ouster from Test cricket has more to do with an in- jury on his left foot than the bitterness of the Australian tour. It might be unwise to repeat his side of the story after 60 years but one wonders success in the Bodyline remains the only 'high' point in Larwood's career. His 33 wickets form nearly 40% of his tally in Test matches. Has he been honored for this reason only? Has English cricket really run short of its cricketing immortals or are they on their way to set new traditions? Who comes next on the list...Mike Gatting or the vaseline hero John Lever? No question, England and Australia had always remained torch bearers of cricket's great traditions but, unfortunately, players from the two sides also remain the planners of all the shameful moves in the history of the game.

Career Highlights: Name: Harold Larwood Tests: 21 Wickets: 78 (avg. 28.35) Best Bowling: 6-32 v Australia, Brisbane, 1928-29. Highest Score: 98 v Australia, Sydney, 1932-33. Career Wickets: 1427 (avg. 17.51) Best Career Bowling: 9-41 Notts v Kent, Trent Bridge, 1931. Best Career Score: 102* Notts v Sussex, Trent Bridge, 1931. 

This article was written after British Monarch honored Harold Larwood as  Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1993.