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* - by the great Harold Larwood in the Bodyline series.
I read a biography about Harold - must be around 10 years ago. A fantastic bowler who did as he was told in that series by Jardine.
Harold kept loads of photos and cuttings about his career. The most significant photograph was taken during the final Bodyline Test in 1933. It shows Donald Bradman struck for the only time during the series. A skidding ball has not climbed as high as he expected. As the shutter clicks, Bradman has his back to the camera. He is bent at the waist and has begun to fall away behind he stumps. The bat remains gripped in his left hand. Larwood has written plainly: "Bradman, trying all sorts of shots to combat the leg-side attack."
Newspaper reports claimed that Larwood struck him on the forearm. Not so, said Larwood. Those privileged enough to be given the photograph to examine were asked the rhetorical question: "You know where I got Bradman?" There would be a well-rehearsed pause before he would lean forward and deliver his punchline: "On the arse."
No matter how many times he recounted that story, Larwood always laughed, as though telling it for the first time. The thought of the mottled purple bruise on Bradman's backside made him smile mischievously. "There'd never been a lot of love lost between us," he'd admit, flatly.
I think Beirne will be blindside. I can’t choose between Watson and Curry. Both should play/deserve selection but I think Gats will want Beirne for his size.