 Australia lost heavily by ten wickets in the first Test at Sydney , when the bowling spearhead of bodyline , Harold Larwood , took ten wickets . Bradman missed the first Test due to illness , although Jardine refused to believe this and thought the real reason was that the batsman had suffered a nervous breakdown due to his tactical scheme . The only Australian batsman to make an impact was Stan McCabe , who resolutely stood his ground and impulsively hooked and pulled everything aimed at his upper body , undeterred by the prospect of taking a potentially lethal blow to the head . He scored 187 not out in four hours , an innings described by leading historian David Frith as " among the most stirring innings Test cricket has ever produced " . 
 Australia lost heavily by ten wickets in the first Test at Sydney , when the bowling spearhead of bodyline , Harold Larwood , took ten wickets . Bradman missed the first Test due to illness , although Jardine refused to believe this and thought the real reason was that the batsman <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> suffered a nervous breakdown due to his tactical scheme . The only Australian batsman to make an impact was Stan McCabe , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a>resolutely stood his ground and impulsively hooked and pulled everything aimed at his upper body , undeterred by the prospect of taking a potentially lethal blow to the head . He scored 187 not out in four hours , an innings described by leading historian David Frith as " among the most stirring innings Test cricket <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>has</mark></a> ever produced " . 
Australia lost heavily by ten wickets in the first Test at Sydney , when da bowling spearhead of bodyline , Harold Larwood , took ten wickets . Bradman missed tdafirst Test due to illness , although Jardine refused to believe dis and thought thdaeal reason was dat thedatsman done suffered a nervous breakdown due to his tactical scheme . The day Australian batsman to make an impact was Stan McCabe , resolutely stood his ground and impulsively hooked and pulled everything aimed at his upper body , undeterred by the prospect of taking a potentially lethal blow to the head . He scored 187 not outt in four hours , an innings described by leading historian David Frith as " among the mda stirring innings Test cricket done ever produced " .