Argued by numerous cricket fans to be the best batsman in the history of the business, Don Bradman stands apart from most wonderful cricketers who have entertained fans through ages.
Bradman has a Test batting average of 99.94, easily surpassing greats like Sachin Tendulkar (53.8), Sir Garfield Sobers (57.8), Brian Lara (52.9), Sir Viv Richards (50.2), Imran Khan (37.7), etc.
This is the specific reason why many cricket specialists such as the gurus at Cricket Betting Man hold Sir Don Bradman to be the best batsman of all time in Test Cricket. Today we are going to take a swift look at this legend’s career, to grasp the core of his struggles and achievements.
How Did It All Start?
Born in Cootamundra, Australia, Donald George Bradman was the youngest child of Emily and George Bradman, after one brother and three sisters. Donald’s encounter with cricket started not on the playing field but within his own home. He invented a game of one player, where he hit a golf ball with a stump of cricket towards the curved brick portion of their water tank time and again. He conceived of the house wall on his off-side as one boundary. Thereby, he would imagine ‘Test Matches’ inside his head and be the batsman to the unforeseeable deliveries of the Tank Stand. In this way, Don Bradman developed unbelievable reflexes and footwork while facing balls at great speed and widely differing angles.
His Debut in First Class Cricket
After playing for short spans in the teams of Bowral and Sidney and scoring unbelievably for a newcomer, Bradman, then 19, got his first-class debut at the Adelaide Oval, playing for the New South Wales cricket team. He, unfailingly, scored a century on debut. He was quickly spotted by the cricketing community for his rapid footwork, unwavering composure, and fast pace of scoring runs.
His Golden Test Career
Bradman had a Test Career which the most successful cricket players of any point in history would envy. In 1926, the stage had already been set for Don Bradman’s arrival in the Australian cricket team after the retirement of many ageing Australian players of the international level team, after a humiliating defeat to England in the Ashes. Obviously, Bradman made good use of this opportunity by securing a spot in the international team, by dint of noteworthy performances against Queensland and a touring team from England in the 1928-29 season. He debuted in the Brisbane Test against England.
Unfortunately, he scored miserable runs of 18 and 1 in the first match and was dropped in the second. There was no looking back for Bradman since the third test. In this third Test, he became the youngest player to score a Test century. Although Australia lost the series 4-1 to England, with luck playing a big role, Bradman was the name on everyone’s mouth. The 1930 tour of England dispelled any doubts anyone had about Bradman being the best. He scored back-to-back tons and attained a number of records in this period. He became the fifth international and first Australian player to complete 1,000 runs in first class cricket.
On one day in the third test, he scored 309 in a single day, which till date remains the highest record runs scored by a cricketer on a single day. In the whole series, he scored 974 runs averaging at 139.14, with four centuries, including two doubles and a triple. Nobody after him has scored equal to or above 974 in a single series or scored three double centuries in the same. After this series, Bradman became a national hero since the Australian team led to victory by him gave a dose of optimism to the then depression-paled Australia.
This was just a small sample of proof of the extraordinary calibre as a player inside Bradman. He scored an astounding 6,996 runs in 52 matches. Had he been an opener his average would have crossed 100 by a large margin. But cricket is not the only thing to learn from Sir Bradman.
Bradman’s Extraordinary Sporting Spirit
Despite his unfailing performances, Bradman was reluctant to be hero-worshipped. He always put more emphasis on the collective efforts of all the team members rather than his unique feats. He explained very beautifully that he made runs for Australia and not for himself. His whole life will always be an exception to the hyper-competitive motto of today’s cricket world. He always tried to evade the limelight and lead a very private life. He will be forever remembered for his patriotic approach to cricket, adaptive style of batting and genuine practice of the term “the gentlemen’s game”. #KhabarLive #hydnews #hyderabadlive
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