Don Bradman

NAME Sir Donald George Bradman

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Don Bradman is famous for being an Australian cricketer, widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. His unparalleled batting average of 99.94 in Test cricket remains one of the most remarkable records in the sport.

BIRTH Don Bradman was born on August 27, 1908, in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Bradman was the youngest of George and Emily Bradman’s five children. His father was a carpenter, and his family moved to Bowral when he was two years old. There was English heritage on both sides

CHILDHOOD Bradman's childhood was marked by a love of cricket. He developed his skills by playing with a makeshift cricket stump and a golf ball, hitting it against a curved water tank stand. This practice helped him develop extraordinary hand-eye coordination.

Bradman hit his first century at the age of 12, with an undefeated 115 playing for Bowral Public School against Mittagong High School.

EDUCATION Bradman attended Bowral Public School and later went to Sydney's Kensington High School. His education was relatively modest, and he left school at the age of 14 to work as a clerk while pursuing his cricketing ambitions.

CAREER RECORD Bradman's cricket career was extraordinary. He made his first-class debut for New South Wales at 19 and his Test debut for Australia in 1928. Over his career, he scored 6,996 runs in 52 Test matches with an average of 99.94. Bradman scored 29 Test centuries and 117 first-class centuries. He captained Australia from 1936 to 1948 and led the "Invincibles" on the unbeaten 1948 tour of England.

Bradman worked in various roles after his cricket career, including as a stockbroker and cricket administrator.

APPEARANCE Bradman was of slight to medium build, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was known for his sharp, intense gaze, determined jawline and his impeccable batting stance.

Bradman in 1928

FASHION Bradman's fashion sense was typical of his era. On the field, he wore traditional cricket whites, while off the field, he dressed in a conservative, elegant style, often seen in suits and ties.

CHARACTER Bradman was known for his discipline, focus, and humility. He was highly competitive yet maintained a reputation for sportsmanship and integrity.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Bradman had a dry sense of humour, often understated but sharp. He was known to be quite private but could be witty and engaging in the right company.

The great Sachin Tendulkar, another legend of the crease, met Bradman on his 90th birthday.  Impressed by the old man's wit, Tendulkar couldn't resist a cheeky question: "What would you average in today's cricket?" Bradman, ever the pragmatist, pondered for a moment.  "Maybe 70," he chuckled.  Tendulkar, wide-eyed, blurted, "Why only 70? Not 99?"  Bradman, with a twinkle in his eye, replied, "Come on now, that's not bad for a 90-year-old, is it?"

RELATIONSHIPS Bradman married Jessie Martha Menzies at St Paul's Anglican Church at Burwood, Sydney on April 30, 1932, and they remained together until her death in 1997. 

They had three children  their first-born son died as an infant in 1936; Their second son, John, born in 1939, became an academic lecturing in constitutional and environmental law;  their daughter, Shirley, born in 1941, had cerebral palsy from birth.

MONEY AND FAME  Bradman's cricketing success brought him a moderate level of wealth, though not comparable to today's professional athletes. 

A national hero in Australia, although uncomfortable with fame, Bradman used his platform to promote cricket.

FOOD AND DRINK Bradman had simple tastes and preferred home-cooked meals. He was not known for any particular indulgence in food or drink.

MUSIC AND ARTS Bradman enjoyed music, particularly classical music, and played the piano. He recorded several songs accompanying himself and others on piano in the early 1930s, including "Every Day Is A Rainbow Day For Me" with Jack Lumsdaine.

His appreciation for the arts extended to literature, although his primary focus remained on sports.

In 1932 Bradman, advertised as the Babe Ruth of cricket, and the rest of the Australian team were touring North America.  In one of the matches Bradman was bowled out for a duck and the media picked up on this and talked about Donald's Duck. Legend has it that Walt Disney, a man with a good eye for a good name, decided on Donald Duck's name after reading about this.

LITERATURE Bradman wrote several books about cricket, including his autobiography Farewell to Cricket (1950) and The Art of Cricket (1958), sharing his insights and experiences.

NATURE Bradman had an affinity for the Australian landscape, particularly the rural environment of Bowral, where he spent much of his childhood and later life.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS In the immortal words of the scoreboard, Donald Bradman swaggered onto the first-class scene at the tender age of 19.  This was no callow youth, mind you.  He thumped a cool 188 runs for New South Wales against South Australia, a century on debut for a lad who probably still had pimples.  Not bad for a Saturday afternoon's work.

The other side of the world, England got a taste of the Bradman blitz a few years later.  Headingly witnessed a masterclass in 1930, where Bradman piled on a ridiculous 334 runs in a single innings.  That's more runs than most teams manage in an entire day!  Speaking of which, Bradman also holds the record for most runs in a single day of Test cricket – a staggering 309, part of that same 334 innings. Now that's some serious domination.

Bradman's final innings was a heartbreaker for statisticians everywhere.  He needed just four measly runs to average a cool 100 in Test cricket, the holy grail of batting averages.  Alas, the cruel hand of fate (actually, the wrist-spin of Eric Hollies) intervened.  Out for a duck.  Final average: 99.94. 

Bradman scored a staggering 26% of his Australian team's runs in Test matches. And another fun fact is Bradman only managed a measly six sixes in his entire Test career.  Apparently, the man wasn't a big fan of flamboyant displays.

Aside from cricket, Bradman enjoyed golf and was an accomplished player. He also had a keen interest in tennis and squash.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Bradman had a logical and analytical mind, which he applied to his cricket, meticulously studying his own technique and that of his opponents. 

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY Bradman was a private man regarding his philosophical or theological beliefs. He was known for his ethical approach to life and sportsmanship, reflecting a strong moral character.

SCANDAL Bradman's career was remarkably free of scandal. He maintained a reputation for integrity both on and off the field.

MILITARY RECORD During World War II, Bradman enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force on June 28, 1940. However a routine army test revealed that he had poor eyesight and he was transferred to the Australian Army. Bradman was commissioned as a lieutenant and served as a physical training officer and  also played some cricket for the army team.

His military service was cut short when he was diagnosed with fibrositis and Bradman was discharged from the army in June 1941.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Bradman faced health challenges, including severe bouts of fibrositis, a chronic muscular condition, which affected his career. Despite this, he remained fit and active through most of his life, thanks to his disciplined lifestyle.

HOMES Bradman lived in various homes in New South Wales. Bradman's birthplace at Cootamundra is now a museum.

Bradman's birthplace By Virtual Steve Wikipedia

Three years after marrying the Bradmans moved to a modest, suburban house in Holden Street, Kensington Park, Adelaide. He loved there for the rest of his life

TRAVEL Bradman traveled extensively for cricket, touring England, South Africa, and other cricketing nations. His travels were primarily for professional purposes, but they also contributed to his global fame.

DEATH Hospitalised with pneumonia in December 2000, Don Bradman returned home in the New Year  and passed away on February 25, 2001, in Kensington Park, South Australia, at the age of 92.

A memorial service to mark Bradman's life was held on March 25, 2001 at St Peter's Anglican Cathedral, Adelaide. The service was attended by many cricketing greats.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Bradman has been featured in numerous documentaries, films, and books. His life and career have been the subject of extensive media coverage, highlighting his legacy as one of cricket's greatest players.

ACHIEVEMENTS Knighted in 1949 for his services to cricket.

Considered one of Australia's greatest sporting heroes.

Holds numerous cricketing records, including the highest Test batting average.

The post office box of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is 9994.

In April 2000, Bradman was voted to be the greatest cricketer of the 20th century by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.