Bill Voce

The 1932–33 Bodyline series between England and Australia is remembered for its controversial tactics. Under skipper Douglas Jardine, England's bowlers targeted Australian batsmen with short-pitched balls aimed at their bodies. Despite winning the series 4–1, this approach caused injuries, public outrage in Australia, strained diplomatic relations, and led to changes in cricket rules.

He was a fast bowler, who instilled mortal fear in batsmen after his 'Bodyline' attack on 'The Don'. The other was a cocky football manager, who in a seven-year span turned a team of laggards into continental club champions.

England enter the Ashes with their quickest pace attack in decades and a matured Bazball philosophy, aiming to end a 15-year drought in Australia. With Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and a battery of genuine quicks, Ben Stokes’ side arrives believing speed can break the long-standing barrier. For Bazball, this is the defining series: victory brings vindication, defeat invites its fiercest scrutiny yet.