Peter Langston
Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia
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Bradman's War by Malcom Knox (Penguin 2012)
In this outstanding book, Knox has returned to source material to bring out the truth behind the 1948 Invincibles tour of England. Long hailed the best Australian side of all time, Knox peels back the gloss of the achievement of going through a long tour of the UK undefeated to reveal the captain's avarice for revenge and honours.
Revealed in books such as Fingleton's "Brightly Fades The Don" and others, plus news articles of the time and other reputable references, the unhappiness of key members of the squad, including vice captain Lindsay Hassett, becomes obvious.
This was, pure and simple, Bradman crushing the English and taking the opportunity, now armed with the lethal dual spearheads of Lindwall and Miller, of atoning for Body Line. It wasn't enough that the game was restructured after the 32-33 English thrashing of Australia to favour batsmen and hence the games best batsman ... no, he wanted them to grovel.
Miller and Hassett were most unhappy about the tactics and ruthlessness approach of Bradman to the opposition, especially as the pair were servicemen based in England during the just-finished war. Bradman's first and only care appears to have been in servicing his legacy. Knox finds it interesting that of all of the players who would go on to be household names from that tour, none subsequently named it as the happiest or favourite overseas assignment in the Baggy Green.
Based on true and original sources, its a book none but Fingleton or O'Reilly would have dared write before Bradman was dead. As it is, Knox has made sure he the great litigant was long gone.
A terrific read.
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