Body-line is a term used to describe a specific style of bowling in cricket, which was popularized during the infamous 1932-33 Ashes series between Australia and England. The term has since been used to describe any bowling strategy that involves targeting the batsman’s body with short-pitched deliveries.
Definitions
Body-line is a bowling tactic in cricket that involves delivering the ball towards the batsman’s body, with the aim of forcing him to play defensively or risk getting hit. This strategy is often employed to unsettle the batsman and force him into making mistakes.
Origin
The body-line tactic was first used by the English cricket team during the 1932-33 Ashes series in Australia. The English bowlers, led by Harold Larwood, targeted the Australian batsmen with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries aimed at their bodies. The tactic was controversial and led to a diplomatic incident between the two countries, with the Australian government threatening to cancel the rest of the series.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, body-line refers to “a bowling tactic in cricket in which the ball is bowled towards the batsman’s body, with the aim of forcing him to play defensively or risk getting hit.” Merriam-Webster defines it as “a tactic in cricket of bowling the ball at or near the body of the batsman.”
Associations
Body-line is often associated with aggressive and intimidating bowling, as well as controversy and conflict. It is also associated with the 1932-33 Ashes series, which is considered one of the most controversial and divisive moments in cricket history.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for body-line include short-pitched bowling, bouncer, and intimidatory bowling.
Antonyms
The antonyms of body-line would be bowling tactics that do not involve targeting the batsman’s body, such as spin bowling or swing bowling.
The same root words
There are no significant root words associated with body-line, as it is a term specific to cricket.
Example Sentences
- The English team employed a body-line tactic in the 1932-33 Ashes series, which led to a diplomatic incident between the two countries.
- The Australian batsmen struggled to cope with the relentless body-line bowling of the English bowlers.
- The body-line tactic is often used to unsettle and intimidate the opposition batsmen.
- The umpires warned the bowler for repeatedly bowling body-line deliveries.
- The Indian team decided to counter the body-line tactic by using a defensive batting strategy.