Bodyline cricket series, 1932-33

ML MSS 5571 (Gubby Allen)

Pier Hotel
Glenelg
South Australia
Jan 12 1932[3]

Plum sends his love.

Darling Dad,
I had the most depressed letters from you and Mum this mail which really rather amused me. It was very sweet of you both to be so upset about what because Warwick Armstrong said wrote some utter rot about my running on the wicket. Actually there was no trouble about it at all. Woodfull just said, "be sure to keep wide of the wicket" upon to which I I so replied "we have got to bat last so I am not likely to make a spot for Grimmett if I can help it". The subject never came up again or in the 2nd Test and noone everbowled pitched a ball in the crack during either match. I saw W. Armstrong today and asked what trivel [drivel] what he was going to work up this time: he had a good deal

of me bowling leg theory & bumpers. That is all nonsense. I will now tell you the a story of what occurred on the morning of the 2nd Test to prove that to you I didn't tell you last week as I thought you might worry but, as now the leg theory is dying & the trouble is therefore very unlikely to reoccur [recur]you need have no fears.
D.R.J. came to me and said the following. "I had a talk with the boys, Larwood & Voce, last night and they say it is all quite absurd you not bowling "bouncers" it is only they say it is only because you are keen on your popularity". Well! I burst and said (a good deal about swollen headed gutless uneducated miners and that if it had been a question only of brushed up by day & popularity I could have bowled "bouncers" years ago. I concluded by saying if he didn't like the way I

doing it. Everyone is fed up with Douglas and there looks like being a fine row in the very near future especially if we lose this test. No one knows of my row with Douglas except Plum who I went & told officially directly afterwards. He besought me to do nothing & I said I would drop it but in the event of the matter coming up again nothing would prevent a nasty scene & the world would know what it was all about it. The paper reporters love me out here specialy because I don't bowl leg theory & would love a story of that sort. It could easily be got to them without any interviews but don't worry I couldn't make a fool of myself. I am sorry Mum has not been too well but that will be all over, I sincerely hope, before

Pier Hotel
Glenelg
South Australia
Jan 18th 1932
Darling Dad,
I shall start this now and finish it when I get a chance. I am at present sitting in the press box with Arthur Mailey watching Ames & Verity bat in our 2nd innings. They have put on 89 so far and this is the second time in the match that Verity has astonished everyone by batting like an opening batsman. It has been a most unpleasant match as you have gathered from the papers. There has been nothing but rows & barracking until I am fed up with everything to do with cricket. As you will see from the enclosed paper, which is only a typical example, that the press & [indecipherable] more especially the public are taking their set-backs very badly. (Douglas Jardine is loathed &, between you & me, rightly more than any german who ever fought in any war.) Plum is worried to death and says the side may have to return at once to England, but that is rot. Premiers, Bishops and

a perfect swine and I can think of no word fit for him to see which describes him well enough. Plum simply hates the sight of him and so does everyone else. I have never had a scene with him in public but I have had one or two on the quiet of which not a soul knows: in fact we are thought to be good friends. Larwood & I bowled better on the Saturday night, when everyone said the wicket was dead easy and forecasted a huge score, than at any time on the tour. I had Ponsford missed at slip by Hammond & nearly bowled him twice and Richardson was never at home to me. For the third innings running, though I have bowled about the best of the side, I was not given a shot at the tail-enders: that Douglas gives them to the pros to keep their support. So much for the cricket, let's talk about something nice for a change. I went to a party last night and in order to keep the subject conversation off that subject we had a 1/- fine for anyone who brought it up. I now hear the B of Control's protest has gone so

I doubt if they can word a sensible cable and, if they do, I am sure the M.C.C. will tear it up as Plum is not going to sign it.)
Later
        We polished them off fairly quickly today and "things" meaning troubles, seem a little quieter. The cable from the team to M.C.C. was a very reasonable one so that has passed off all right. What will happen remains to be seen. I came out with 8 for 121 in the match which will give some of the gentlemen (?) of the English press something to think over. I expect they get their laugh later. I shall be in Sydney next Wednesday morning which I am looking forward to. I think I have arranged with Douglas Jardine to play in Ballarat & miss the Sydney match so as not to have too hard a time before the next test. I forgot to say Woodfull was not at all badly hurt by his blow on the chest but