SIR DONALD BRADMAN
G'day folks,
Welcome to some background on one of Australia's greatest sportsman.
Sir Donald
Bradman is the greatest batsman ever to grace the game. His test average
remains far above anyone else. In 52 tests he managed 29 hundreds and scored
just below 6,000 runs at an average of 99.94. If he had scored 6 runs on his
last test innings at Lords in 1948, he would have finished with an average of
100. However, the greatest cricketer of the era was out for a duck – a
paradoxical end to a stupendous career.
Donald Bradman
was so dominant that the English team resorted to ‘bodyline’ bowling on the
Australian tour of 1933. It was in the era of the great depression, when
cricket provided a relief from the gloom of the Great Depression. The
Australians were up in arms at the ‘uncricket’ like nature of the English bowling.
The tactics were criticised back in England and were even raised in parliament.
Don Bradman finished the series with an average of ‘only’ 53. If it had not
been for the second world war, Don Bradman’s career would have been even more
amazing.
During the war, he initially volunteered for
the RAF, but was later persuaded to join the army (a safer option). However, in
1941, he suffered a bout of fibrositis. Due to the pain he was invalided out of
the army, and suffered bouts of fibrositis throughout his life.
After the war,
he was able to return to the national side. His final tour was the 1948 tour of
England, which captivated a nation. It was said, Bradman was second only to
Churchill in the degree of fame. Despite his waning powers, he still managed to
score 11 centuries and 2,432 runs on tour. The Australians won the tour 4-0. In
the last test at Lords, Bradman went out to bat with an average of 101. He was
given a standing ovation as he left the famous Lords pavilion. But, he was
bowled for 0. England lost by an innings and he never batted again.
After retirement Sir Donald Bradman remained a great
ambassador for the sport. He was knighted for his services to cricket and
remained open to an adoring public, even though he remained publicity shy
throughout the period. In 2001, the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard,
said he was the greatest living Australian.
Clancy's comment: A great average for a cricketer.
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