Absolutely agree Hammer, Bobby Moore was a great sportsman and a gentleman. 

Ah yes, "gentlemen all"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodyline
" Bodyline ... was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932?33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman.
A ... ball was pitched short so as to rise towards the body of the opposing batsman ...
This tactic was considered by many to be intimidatory and physically threatening.

(Australian Captain) Woodfull ...flatly refused to employ retaliatory tactics and did not publicly complain even though he and his men were repeatedly hit.

Shortly after the start of Australia's innings, Larwood ... struck Woodfull an agonising blow under his heart with a short, lifting delivery.
Woodfull was struck when he was bent over his bat and wicket, and not when upright as often imagined.
 As Woodfull bent down over his bat in pain for several minutes ... Jardine reacted by saying "Well bowled, Harold".

The next day, Larwood fractured wicket-keeper Bert Oldfield's skull."


Also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bodyline_3rd_Test_Oldfield_02.jpg

Gentlemen all.

I take your point, Dale.

I suppose, to be really picky, if Jardine did feel strongly that the practice was wrong, perhaps he should have walked away ?

If an employer instructs staff to operate illegally or immorally, should they do so ?
If a soldier is ordered to shoot unarmed civilians is he guiltless if he does so.
They are extreme examples, I know, but the principle remains the same.

The fact that he was welcomed later in Aus says much for our forbearance 

You are right. I grovel. I MEANT Larwood 

Perhaps we have both allowed ourselves to venture beyond Phoenix's
" As was Cricket, in those good Olde days. Gentlemen All ..... "
Doesn't really matter if it was Jardine, Larwood or Micky Mouse. Fact remains ... 'Gentlemen ALL' ?

Instead of quoting verbatim from an inherently unreliable source such as Wikipedia why not read more accurate accounts of the Leg Theory series and then make a personal informed judgement.

You could do worse than to have a look at a book by Michael Arnold - who I think still resides in Australia - called The Bodyline Hypocrisy: Conversations with Harold Larwood. There are many others that are worth reading from such as In Quest of the Ashes by Jardine himself, Bodyline Autopsy by David Frith, and Bradman: An Australian Hero by Charles Williams.

The most interesting slant on the whole affair is from Arnold's tome, whilst we do not learn much more from the Larwood interviews he broadens the subject out to look at the economic situation in Australia at the time and the possible influence of organized crime in gambling on the Tests. Perhaps more pertinent was the total incompetence of the Australian Cricket Board who made themselves look completely inept and frankly stupid.

The truth is that the so called Bodyline series was hyped up by the home press and media who were arrogant enough to think that their ancient team albeit with the inclusion of Bradman the relative new kid on the square, could not be beaten.
Along came Jardine who out thought them while Larwood, Paynter, Hammond and  many others simply played them off the field.
The sad 'sporting' losers resorted to whingeing then and they're still at it now.

Given a few antics from certain Australian cricketers in tests over the years I cannot see we have anything to learn about sportsmanship from them. 

You might very well be right. I make no pretence of being a cricket devotee.
Indeed, I reckon that the only thing on the planet more boring than cricket is FOOTBALL (soccer).

But between the 'Bodyline' fiasco and whatever Aussie antics you are alluding to, one might agree that
"Gentlemen ALL"
 is a bit much ?