Never Surrender

The Life of Douglas Jardine

Mark Peel

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781785319990
• Year: 2021

Never Surrender: The Life of Douglas Jardine is the enthralling story of England's most controversial cricket captain, forever associated with bodyline bowling on MCC's tour to Australia in 1932/33. Despite his privileged upbringing and amateur status, Jardine's steely personality and win-at-all-costs ethos was more akin to the professional game. Confronted with the run-making genius of Australia's Don Bradman in 1932/33, Jardine resorted to a form of intimidatory bowling that helped England regain the Ashes, but his tactics shocked Australia and brought relations between the two countries to the point of collapse. To restore harmony, Jardine was disowned by the MCC cricket establishment and shunned thereafter, but now - in a more modern, competitive age - his reputation has undergone a rehabilitation, not least in Australia. Drawing on fresh material, award-winning cricket author Mark Peel reappraises an outstanding leader whose care for those he valued knew no bounds.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• 1. Born to Rule
• 2. An Oxford Idol
• 3. ‘The Best Amateur Batsman in England’
• 4. The Multi-Coloured Cap
• 5. The Greatest Prize in Sport
• 6. Taming Bradman
• 7. ‘Well Bowled, Harold!’
• 8. The Conquering Hero
• 9. Indian Summer
• 10. The Retreat from Bodyline
• 11. Outcast
• 12. Redemption?
• Afterword: Douglas Jardine
• Bibliography
• Photos