Beyond Bodyline: The women's tour that restored the spirit of cricket

Shreyasi

First Test between England and Australia women down under [Source: X/@PictureSporting]First Test between England and Australia women down under [Source: X/@PictureSporting]

For cricket fans who swore by the spirit of cricket, the Bodyline series was like a storm that rolled in loud, bruising, and impossible to forget. It gave a scare that changed the history of cricket forever.

The 1932–33 Bodyline series sparked controversies that lingered long after the last ball. Douglas Jardine’s tactics, carried out by Harold Larwood and Bill Voce, had damaged the relations between England and Australia. From official apologies to diplomatic handshakes, nothing was enough to soothe the wound.

"It is against our policy to play for cups"

Then the England women landed on the Australian soil for the first time in 1934. The wounds were still fresh; the headlines were sharp and ready to attack the women, too. However, the England women’s cricket team, led by Betty Archdale on their first tour to Australia, did not just calm a nation; it restored the faith of world cricket.

It was their approach that felt like the opposite of their male counterparts. The centre of all of these was the captain, Betty Archdale. Her warmth shifted the mood. She, along with her team, brought something that Australia had not found in Jardine- the sporting goodwill.

"It is against our policy to play for cups. We play only for the love of the game”, said the 27-year-old Betty Archdale at her team’s formal appearance. She affirmed, "We will play matches against an all-Australian eleven, but we do not want the words 'Test cricket' to be introduced into the tour.”

While she insisted that “Australians as a whole take the game too seriously”, she highlighted England’s holistic approach of providing opportunities to the players and contributing to the growth of the game.

Victory built on skill and grace

However, newspapers devoted significant coverage to the women's tour by drawing comparisons to the men’s one. They insisted on referring to the Bodyline, questioning the captain and manager about the same. 

On the other hand, the England women’s cricket team, unshaken under the guidance of Archdale, impressed cricket fans with a high standard of cricket. England won the series 2-0 with one match drawn, and the Australia women laid a strong foundation for the future. 

On the field, they won over the crowd, and off the field, they charmed their way around Down Under. By the end of the tour, the British women’s portrayal of competitive cricket and sporting spirit led the press, players, and even the administration to declare it a success.

The England women’s team basically believed what their manager, Betty Green, had told at the start of the tour in Perth, "There are no Ashes in women's cricket." They proved that competitive international sport could still be played with integrity and grace, setting an example that echoed far beyond the boundary ropes.