Harold Larwood (1904–1995) was a professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire and England between 1924 and 1938. A right-arm fast bowler, he was considered by many commentators to be the finest bowler of his generation. He was the main exponent of the bowling style known as "bodyline", developed under the guidance of England's combative captain Douglas Jardine as a response to the domination of Australia's leading batsman, Don Bradman. The tactic was used with considerable success in the 1932–33 Test series, but the Australians' description of the method as "unsportsmanlike" soured cricketing relations between the two countries. Larwood refused to apologise for his bowling, as he was carrying out his captain's instructions, and never played for England again. In retirement after the Second World War, he and his family emigrated to Australia, where he was warmly welcomed, in contrast to his cricketing days. He paid several subsequent visits to England, and was honoured at his old county ground, Trent Bridge, where a stand was named after him. In 1993 he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), in delayed recognition of his services to cricket. (Full article...)
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