Langer’s message to players seems to be: you are soldiers, yours not to reason why, yours but to do and get banned. Bancroft (like Aamir) knew what he was doing, knew what the impact might be, and went ahead anyway. On that tour, Gubby Allen refused to bowl Bodyline, and finished with 21 wickets, the best after key bowler Harold Larwood’s 33. Interfering with the condition of a cricket ball in play is hardly in the same league, but it is necessary to acknowledge the reduced responsibility such a defence carries. Bedi refused to bowl a restrictive line while the batsmen piled on the runs, reluctant to descend into the ordinary.

Source: The Hindu May 15, 2018 11:15 UTC