Why didnt the Aussies also use "leg theory" in the "bodyline" series?

Question

Did the australian board stop them or any other reason?

Answer 1

Australia didn't really have the bowlers who could pull it off, and although keen to give it a try, Australia's captain wouldn't let them. Also England often started with a conventional attack and field placements, only to change to bodyline at strategic times. This was particularly controversial changing after a player was hit.

Answer 2

this is 2008 not 1895....

Answer 3

aside from not having bowlers genuinely fast enough to use "leg theory" the australian board and players felt it was againist the spirit of the game to do so

Answer 4

Australia in the 30's was quite different today with a different mindset, that being that england was "the mother country" and that relations with her were paramount to Australia's place in the world. The bodyline series evoked many emotions amongst the Australian public and caused not only sporting but political problems that affected all levels of society. The captain, Bill Woodfull was mindful of this, and ever the gentleman, decided that his team would not "stoop" to the level of the englishmen and would play real cricket in an effort to show that this is how the game is meant to be played. Australia did in fact have some fast bowlers capable of returning the leg theory attack and this was discussed at selection level and even by the parliament and public at large, most notable of which was QLD fast bowler Eddie Gilbert who Bradman himself described as the fastest he had ever faced. Gilbert suffered from being aboriginal in a time before social equality was recognised and was actually called for throwing in dubious circumstances( he would fit right in today on this score) and so the plan was abolished. Fast bowler Tim Wall was the quickest of the Australians but his pace could be described as medium at best and was therefore not intimidating enough to provide a solid response. The argument has been that the West Indies teams of the eighties employed a similar tactic, not leg theory as such but straight out intimidation in the form of fast short pitched bowling to curb the scoring effects of the batsmen. Over time, as with all things, players have adapted and learnt to negotitate this as another challenge in the game however at the time it caused controversy not seen since the war years in Australia and caused players and officials to consider the game in a different light. "The gentlemans game" and "the game of empire" had been replaced by a win at all costs attitude that took some time to overcome. In his defence, the english captain Douglas Jardine, although being one of the primary architects of bodyline fell prey to the forces that many before him and since have succumbed to. The will of the armchair generals at Lords. Bradman was a problem and they couldn't see a clear way to get past him and Jardine had a plan and it was executed to a tea. Many, including Jardine himself did not forsee the problems and effects that this would have on the empire as a whole and consequently Woodfull's decision not to reciprocate has been judged through history as one of the most gentlemanly acts on a sporting field and ultimately led to "bodyline" being barred from the sport altogether.

Answer 5

This 'leg theory' was invented only because England was unable to contain and stop Donald Bradman. He was too good to be true. Rodney Marsh wrote somewhere that he saw Don take a bat and show few strokes at the age of 65 and Rodney Marsh wrote 'this guy ought to be there on the field'. Any way, in those days, Aussies did not feel the need to go unconventional which they perhaps felt 'ungentlemanly'. Afterall, cricket is said to be a gentleman's game.