Douglas Jardine Trivia Quiz

Answer: 23rd October 1900, Bombay, India

Douglas Robert Jardine was born in India of Scottish parents, and sent to England to be educated. He attended Winchester College and Oxford University. He died in Montreux, Switzerland on 18th June 1958.

Answer: 22

Jardine's debut was in 1928, against the West Indies at Lords. He played his last test against India in Madras in 1934.

Answer: Batsman

In his 22 tests, Jardine scored 1296 runs at an average of 48.0. He only bowled one over in test cricket, and did not take a wicket. In first class matches he scored 14848 runs and took 48 wickets with his slow bowling.

Answer: True

Jardine's highest test innings was 127 against the West Indies in 1933. He made ten half centuries at test level. In first class cricket he scored a total of 35 centuries.

Answer: bodyline

The 'Bodyline' series took place in Australia in 1932/1933. 'Bodyline' bowling involved the England fast bowlers bowling to a packed leg-side field. This put the Australians in danger of being hit by the constant barrage of short-pitched deliveries, and led to protests by the Australian Board of Control.

The Australians threatened to call off their proposed tour of England in 1934, if these tactics were not declared unlawful. Finally, the M.C.C. agreed that 'bodyline' was against the spirit of the game, and so the practice stopped.

Answer: Harold Larwood and Bill Voce

Harold Larwood was born in Nottinghamshire, the county that he represented during his first class career in England. He played in 21 tests, taking 78 wickets at an average of 28.35.
Bill Voce was also from Nottinghamshire. He played in 27 tests between 1930 and 1947, taking 98 wickets in his test career.
Larwood and Voce have gone down in history as one of the most formidable bowling partnerships. Larwood was the faster of the two, but Voce was equally formidable, and therefore no relief for the batsmen after the onslaught of his partner.

Answer: Donald Bradman scored the most runs during the five test series

Bradman actually scored 396 runs during the series, while Sutcliffe and Hammond each scored 440 runs.

Answer: South Africa

Jardine played ten tests against Australia, scoring 540 runs. He played four each against the West Indies, New Zealand and India.

Answer: True

Jardine captained England in fifteen test matches. He won nine of those matches, drew five of them and only lost one.

Answer: He was a short, stocky man

Jardine was proud of his association with Oxford, so wore his Harlequin cap while playing test matches. This led many to find him pretentious. He has been condemned for his use of the 'leg theory', as he called 'bodyline' bowling, and although he defended his tactics, few agreed with them.

He hated Australia, and was eager to put an end to Donald Bradman's prolific scoring against any opposition. He was a tall man, with a very great determination to succeed. Finally, it is common in the first class game in modern times for fast bowlers to intimidate batsmen with short pitched deliveries, although not to the extent that Jardine and his bowlers did. I hope the quiz makes you look a little more favourably on one of England's greatest batsmen and captains.