Once upon Bodyline

Stan McCabe: After his sublime 187 - an innings that nearly killed Bodyline before it began - in the first Test in Sydney, McCabe hadn't made any significant contributions in the series. Here, in Brisbane, he scored only 20, hampered by a painful blow to the upper arm by Larwood. To McCabe's surprise, Jardine, the embattled England captain, "rushed to his aid and vigorously massaged the affected part", reported the Brisbane Courier.

Harold Larwood: It was an unusually quiet day for Larwood. He went wicketless for 65 runs from 20 overs, prompting the Sydney Morning Herald to claim: "Leg theory mastered." That evening in the hotel bar, Larwood told a few journalists that he would dismiss the "boy wonder" (Bradman) in the first three overs of the next day. And so he did, bowling Bradman early the next day when he moved away from the stumps to cut a ball.

Don Bradman: McCabe and opener Vic Richardson were praised for how they stood up to Larwood's bowling, while Bradman's unorthodox technique of stepping away to cut to the off was criticised by many. Jack Hobbs wrote: "If a schoolboy tried to cut a ball on the leg stick you would smack his head, yet here was Bradman doing it." Bradman later pointed out that, unlike McCabe and Richardson, he had scored over 50 four times in the series, and that his methods also put him at greater risk of injury.

Wally Hammond: While he did not express dissent against Bodyline during the tour, unlike the Nawab of Pataudi, Hammond later condemned it. He wrote: "I believe only good luck was responsible for the fact that no one was killed by body-line. I have had to face it, and I would have got out of the game if it had been allowed to persist! I doubt if there was any answer to such bowling, unless grave risks of injury were courted."

Douglas Jardine: Jardine took a stunning catch at gully to dismiss McCabe off Gubby Allen. He walked out to bat in England's first innings wearing an MCC cap (not his Harlequins one, which had been derided by Australian spectators) and chewing gum. He batted five hours for 70 runs in the match as England regained the Ashes. When complimented by Australian legspinner Bill O'Reilly, Jardine replied: "Don't you think I was like an old maid defending her virginity?"

Hedley Verity: About his first Test tour, Verity wrote in his diary: "It will be a wonderful holiday and education apart from the cricket." In Brisbane, he batted close to three hours for an unbeaten 23 and added 92 runs with Eddie Paynter, who briefly left the hospital sickbed to rescue England's innings and give them a narrow lead.