during the previous winter, england had played australia in the controversial bodyline series in which the english bowlers were accused of bowling the ball on the line of leg stump. the deliveries were often short-pitched with four or five fielders close by on the leg side waiting to catch deflections off the bat. the tactics were difficult for batsmen to counter and were designed to be intimidatory. in the 1933 english season, bodyline was a sensitive subject. there had already been controversy in the tourists' match against the mcc, during which constantine and manny martindale, another west indian fast bowler, were criticised in the press for bowling short. frustrated by a slow pitch which he believed was intended to neutralise his fast bowlers, grant had ordered constantine to bowl bodyline against yorkshire, and decided to repeat the tactics in the second test. the west indies scored 375, of which constantine made 31. when england replied, several batsmen were discomfited by the bodyline bowling; wally hammond was struck on the chin and retired hurt. constantine and martindale bowled up to four short deliveries each over so that the ball rose to head height; occasionally they bowled around the wicket.