(1904-11-14)14 November 1904 Nuncargate, Nottinghamshire, England
Died
22 July 1995(1995-07-22) (aged 90) Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Nickname
The Wrecker
Height
5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Batting
Right-handed
Bowling
Right arm fast
International information
National side
England
Test debut (cap 225)
26 June 1926 v Australia
Last Test
28 February 1933 v Australia
Domestic team information
Years
Team
1924–1938
Nottinghamshire
1936/37
Europeans (India)
Career statistics
Competition
Test
First-class
Matches
21
361
Runs scored
485
7,290
Batting average
19.40
19.91
100s/50s
0/2
3/25
Top score
98
102*
Balls bowled
4,969
58,027
Wickets
78
1,427
Bowling average
28.35
17.51
5 wickets in innings
4
98
10 wickets in match
1
20
Best bowling
6/32
9/41
Catches/stumpings
15/–
234/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 8 January 2009
Harold LarwoodMBE (14 November 1904 – 22 July 1995) was a professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and the England cricket team between 1924 and 1938. A right-arm fast bowler who combined extreme speeds with great accuracy, he was considered by many players and commentators to be the finest and the fastest fast bowler of his generation and one of the fastest bowlers of all time. He was the main exponent of the bowling style known as "bodyline", the use of which during the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) tour of Australia in 1932–33 caused a furore that brought about a premature and acrimonious end to his international career.
A coal miner's son who began working in the mines at the age of 14, Larwood was recommended to Nottinghamshire on the basis of his performances in club cricket, and rapidly acquired a place among the country's leading bowlers. He made his Test debut in 1926, in only his second season in first-class cricket, and was a member of the 1928–29 touring side that retained the Ashes in Australia. The advent of the Australian batsman Don Bradman ended a period of English cricket supremacy; Larwood and other bowlers were completely dominated by Bradman during Australia's victorious tour of 1930. Thereafter, under the guidance of England's combative captain Douglas Jardine, the fast leg theory or bodyline bowling attack was developed. With Larwood as its spearhead the tactic was used with considerable success in the 1932–33 Test series in Australia. The Australians' description of the method as "unsportsmanlike" soured cricketing and political relations between the two countries; during subsequent efforts to heal the breach, Larwood refused to apologise for his bowling, since he was carrying out his captain's instructions. He never played for England after the 1932–33 tour, but continued his county career with considerable success for several more seasons.
In 1949, after years out of the limelight, Larwood was elected to honorary membership of the MCC. The following year he and his family were encouraged by former opponent Jack Fingleton to emigrate and settle in Australia, where he was warmly welcomed, in contrast to the reception accorded him in his cricketing days. He worked for a soft drinks firm, and as an occasional reporter and commentator on Tests against visiting England sides. He paid several visits to England, and was honoured at his old county ground, Trent Bridge, where a stand was named after him. In 1993, at the age of 88, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in belated recognition of his services to cricket. He died two years later.
HaroldLarwood MBE (14 November 1904 – 22 July 1995) was a professional cricketer for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and the England cricket team...
Larwood is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: HaroldLarwood (1904–1995), British cricketer Jacob Larwood (1826–1918), Dutch author Marek...
1928–29, Harry Alexander bowled fast leg theory at an England team, and HaroldLarwood briefly used a similar tactic on that same tour in two Test matches...
known as Bodyline. Jardine instructed his fast bowlers, most notably HaroldLarwood and Bill Voce, to bowl at the bodies of the Australian batsmen, with...
expatriate living in Britain at the time of his birth. England fast bowlers HaroldLarwood (in 1950) and Frank Tyson (in 1960) also took advantage of the scheme...
on a difficult pitch, against international bowlers Maurice Tate and HaroldLarwood. Immediately after this match, Jardine made his Test debut against the...
from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2012. "HaroldLarwood". Cricinfo. ESPN. Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved...
Bradman battled through a difficult session when England fast bowler HaroldLarwood bowled short on a pitch enlivened by the rain. Wisden gave this period...
Hill Book of the Year Award for HaroldLarwood biography". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 26 November 2012. "HaroldLarwood biography wins William Hill prize...
Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, is a group of bronze statues, of HaroldLarwood (created by Andrew in 2002) with William Voce and Donald Bradman (both...
Between the wars Notts enjoyed the services of the famous bowlers HaroldLarwood and Bill Voce. Strong batting from George Gunn, Arthur Carr and Dodger...
of all time. He modelled his action on the great England fast bowler HaroldLarwood. Together with Keith Miller, Lindwall formed a new-ball pairing regarded...
captain Bill Woodfull was struck over the heart by a ball delivered by HaroldLarwood. Although not badly hurt, Woodfull was shaken and dismissed shortly...
writings that during his first spell, Nissar was faster than Englishman HaroldLarwood,[citation needed] who terrorized Australia in 1932 in the infamous Bodyline...
are an Angel compared to Pat!" An enterprising Sydney newspaper paid HaroldLarwood to give his name to an article declaring "Replay Tests – Tyson Not Fair"...
Chapman and including Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe, Wally Hammond and HaroldLarwood—toured Australia in 1928–29. Ponsford's form was good in the lead up...
bodies reached its most dramatic moment when a ball from fast bowler HaroldLarwood hit Oldfield in the head, fracturing his skull (although this was from...
Taylor Dick Tyldesley William Whysall 1926 Jack Hobbs 1927 George Geary HaroldLarwood Jack Mercer Bert Oldfield Bill Woodfull 1928 Roger Blunt Charlie Hallows...
the off stump, simply allowing it to pass by. The English fast bowler HaroldLarwood responded by targeting leg stump, frequently hitting the batter with...
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