Set at a time when 40 million English ruled a third of the World's population and when to be born British was to win first prize in the lottery of life episode 1 introduces Harold Larwood, son of a coal miner born into poverty, Donald Bradman born and raised in the Australian bush and Douglas Jardine, child of the Raj born in India educated in England surrounded by affluence and power. The first episode focuses on Australia, a yound nation, emerging from the shadow of England. Douglas Jardine is introduced at his 9th birthday in Bombay, Lord Harris explains the significance of the soon to be famous Harlequin cap, and his parents bid him an emotional farewell as he departs to be educated in England, first at Horris Hill School later at Winchester College. Andrew Lane teaches the young Jardine that cricket is a thinking mans game 'you don't bowl a batsmen out, you think him out'. Jardine emerges from WW1 tall and athletic, reserved and determined, this determination attracts interest from Percy Fender (Surrey Captain) who is impressed with Jardines captaincy. Meanwhile a young Harold Larwood is introduced bowling for money at the coal mine where he works and in Australia a certain Don Bradman is selected first for New South Wales and then in 1928 for Australia during Jardine's first tour down under.
Clive 'Chuck' Cooper reports on the first test between England and Australia from Brisbane Oval on November 30th 1928 in which Don Bradman makes his test debut. England bat first and destroy the Australian bowling, Douglas Jardine makes his test debut scoring a creditable 35 out of an England total of 521. Australia are then demolished by the England bowling attack with Bradman making 18. Australia are all out for 122 resulting in England scoring a resounding victory. Australia lose the second test in Sydney after dropping Don Bradman from the team. Onto Melbourne for the third test match and Bradman is recalled to the Australian team scoring freely all around the wicket to make his maiden test century becoming the youngest player to score a test century aged 20. England go on to win the series 4-1. The Australian test side arrived in England in the middle of the great depression of 1930, Bradman dominates the English bowling throughout the series breaking record after record as Douglas Jardine predicted, the Ashes are regained by Australia. Lord Harris plots and schemes behind the scenes to manipulate Percy Fender into resigning the Surrey captaincy much to the disgust of the young Jardine who replaces him.
Jardine starts to put his strategy against Bradman into action.
Douglas Jardine puts his “leg theory” into action. Its effectiveness is demonstrated first in a warm up match, and then in the first test, where England just need 1 run in the second innings to win. Bradman misses the first test due to illness, and his ability to play in the second test is doubtful because the Cricket Board won’t let him write a newspaper column while playing.
Jardine’s Bodyline tactic is employed against Don Bradman for the first time.
Oldfield gets hit on the head and everyone finally realizes just how dangerous Jardine’s Bodyline leg theory is. Woodfall and the entire Australian team threaten to resign unless the ACB takes steps to ban the tactic. All the ACB does is send a strongly worded protest cable to the MCC at Lords. The MCC get an official of the Crown involved and have him send the British High Commissioner to the Australian Prime Minister to try to smooth things over. The Prime Minister agrees to twist the ACB’s collective arm into resuming the test series, if the English can convince Jardine to moderate his usage of the tactic. An incensed Jardine now threatens to take the entire team and abandon the series unless the ACB withdraw their strongly worded complaint. It appears that no one will back down for now.
the final test is played and England wins back the Ashes thanks to a heroic effort by Eddie Paynter. But there will be consequences felt far and wide. Edith leaves Douglas to take a job in Palestine, Harold Larwood refuses to apologize for bowling Bodyline and is unceremoniously fired from all forms of cricket. Jardine gives up cricket when his use of Bodyline in India causes an already restive populace to riot. And Bradman goes on to have a legendary career.
