Bodyline at Bundy
Bundalaguah Cricket Club has played host to many champion cricketers over the years but none more famous, or infamous, than the instigator of the Bodyline tactics, the 'Iron Duke' Douglas Jardine.
Late in the 'Bodyline Series,' on Saturday March 18, 1933, Douglas Jardine visited the Bundalaguah Cricket Club, a visit few other Australian cricket clubs could boast but one that could have easily changed cricketing history. By this stage of the series Jardine was one of the most despised people in Australia.
Douglas Jardine was close friends with the local councillor, Fred Gilder, who was the proud owner of the prestigious 'Powerscourt' a large estate and extroadinary homestead near Maffra. Mr Gilder was educated at Geelong Grammar and then at Oxford University where he struck up his friendship with Jardine. Jardine's visit came about via some spare time he had during the fateful series as there weren't as many games played as today's tours.
On this particular day, Bundalaguah were playing their arch rivals Maffra and Mr Gilder thought it appropriate to bring Jardine along to enjoy some country cricket and hospitality at the Bundalaguah Cricket Club. Mr Gilder drove up in his luxurious limousine to a warm welcome from the locals. After much coaxing, Jardine was asked to give a batting demonstration and it was decided that he would face an over from the best local fast bowler at the time, Emmett Lanigan from Maffra. Emmett was a brilliant fast bowler and was later chosen to open the bowling for Victoria after a successful Country Week carnival, which, in itself, is a remarkable feat.
Jardine strolled out to the middle in his famous harlequin cap and faced up without wearing gloves. Emmett roared in and bowled a seething delivery that reared up off the fiery matting, straight past the England captain's nose. This fearsome delivery put the wind right up the infamous English captain and after a single ball Jardine abandoned the idea of facing the rest of the over and immediately left the pitch with his bat under his arm.
According to Emmet's nephew, Kevin Lanigan, Emmett was particularly proud of this delivery and he had every intention of hitting the man many regarded as possibly the best ever English captain.
By this stage of the series the 'Bodyline' tactics were well entrenched, so we cannot lay claim to this being the catalyst of the leg side theory. It is however a part of Bodyline history, the day the Aussie country cricketers got something back on the number one enemy of the day.
The day before this auspicious delivery, Douglas Jardine showed his softer side by donating a cricket bat signed by the English XI to raise funds for the Gippsland Hospital. An article written by 'The Argus' on March 18, 1933 reads:
"GIFT BY JARDINE - MAFFRA, Friday - Through Councillor Fred Gilder, of the Maffra Shire, Mr D.R. Jardine captain of the English Eleven, has presented the bat, autographed by all the visiting players, with which Sutcliffe made 194 in the first Test Match, to the committee of the Maffra Shire 'queen' carnival in aid of the Gippsland Hospital. The bat is on view at the shire hall, Maffra."