It was a great start. Over the summer of 1932 and 1933, the brand new Australian Broadcasting Commission presented its first live, national sports broadcast.

It was Test cricket, played by Australia and England—the Ashes. It also just happened to be the infamous 'Bodyline' series, designed to limit runs by the brilliant young Don Bradman.

Bodyline caused a great deal of ill-feeling between Australia and England, in a climate of broader tension in Anglo-Australian relations.

But to what extent was the drama and controversy of these matches heightened because they were broadcast by the ABC, and for the first time could be followed live by large numbers of people all over the country?