Australia & Ashes 2017 - 2018 - Day 36 - 28th December

Day 28

Richard and I were on the road again today, going down to Bowra to visit the Don Bradman Museum and Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.  But not before breakfast in the On Shore restaurant in Dee Why with Alfie, Amy and the kids.

Great food once again and Dylan stole most of my Turkish toast.  After a walk along the front back to the car Richard and I set of on the one and a half hour journey to Mittagong.  

At Mittagong we checked into the Best Western Lodge Hotel before driving the short distance to Bowra.

Best Western Lodge, Mittagong

Our rooms were both spacious and comfortable

When we arrived at the Don Bradman Museum I was prepared for what we would see, having visited before but Richard was not.  He was transfixed by what was on display some of it going back centuries and then coming right up to date.  

Once again my favourite part of it was the Bodyline display and film show.  This particular Ashes series has always fascinated me.

Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman. England's use of a tactic perceived by some as overly aggressive or even unfair ultimately threatened diplomatic relations between the two countries before the situation was calmed.

A bodyline delivery was one where the cricket ball was bowled at the body of the batsman, in the hope that when he defended himself with his bat, a resulting deflection could be caught by one of several fielders standing close by. This was considered by critics to be intimidatory and physically threatening, to the point of being unfair in a game that was supposed to uphold gentlemanly traditions.

Although no serious injuries arose from any short-pitched deliveries while a leg theory field was actually set, the tactic still led to considerable ill feeling between the two teams, particularly when Australian batsmen suffered actual injuries in separate incidents, which inflamed the watching crowds. The controversy eventually spilled into the diplomatic arena.

Short-pitched bowling continues to be permitted in cricket, even when aimed at the batsman. However, over time, several of the Laws of Cricket were changed to render the bodyline tactic less effective.

I managed to get hold of a DVD of a television series devoted to Bodyline which was first aired about 30 years ago.  Only trouble is it won't play on UK equipment so I will have to invest in a multi region DVD player when I get home.

After a couple of hours inside the Museum we went outside to the actual Oval that Don Bradman played on.  There was work going on on the actual square but we were allowed access Everywhere else.

I recognise that lone supporter

Then back to Mittagong for a shower before going out for something to eat.  We ate at an Indian restaurant that had been recommended to us, the Shiva, just a short walk from our hotel.

These suburb towns remind me of my impression of the wild west. Mittagong was no exception.

We both enjoyed the meal here before heading back to the hotel for a night's rest before heading off to Kangaroo Valley next morning.