*Harsh Thakor writes
*Bradman batted like an invincible racehorse so much head and shoulders above his generation that the handicapping rules had to be revised.It is of strange coincidence that theAustralian Racehorse Pharlap, perhaps the greatest horse ever had his peak years of racing while Bradman was coming to the limelight.His skill were simply infinite and often the bowlers simply went through the motions, like a set of Knights, bowing before an Emperor in a Ceremony.However he was rather reserved as a person and didn’t share his succeses with his team mates.
Bradman was a self taught Cricketer.Born the son of a farmer and Cricketer, Young Bradman excelled in games and atheletics in the country town of BowralBradman had a lonely Childhood.He moved his way to play from Grade Cricket to the New South Wales Side.After promising performances for New South Wales* he made it to the Australian Side.
In his first test Bradman scored 1 and 18 on a rain affected wicket.In the second test he scored his first Century scoring 79 and 112 at Melbourne.
* In 1930 the World of Cricket saw batting that looked like someone had come from another planet .Bradman scored 2, 960 runs at an average of 98.66 .In tests he scored a record 974 runs, scoring 3 Centuries at an average of 139.14.At Headingley he scored 334, including 309 runs in a day.Never had Cricket witnessed such breathtaking domination.Bradman that day was simply an army carrying out a most humiliating defeat on the enemy.The bowlers were massacred like a sword beheading a criminal.At Lords Bradman played what he considered his best Innings.He scored 254 runs-one of the greatest Innings ever.
* On his return series in Australia, Bradman was now considered the greatest and the English bowlers conceived a plan to restrict him of enormous tactical understanding.This was the body-line attack where the ball would be pitched short around the body and the field packed on the legside.Bradman averaged 56 in that series coping admirably but he simpy couldn’t be his old self.The Australian batsman were unable to cope with Larwood and Voce.
In 1934 bRadman suffered from irregular health but in the final test scored 244 and 77.Bradman had suffered an attack of Appendix and had to go through an emergency operation.After successful Surgery Bradman batted with grim determination to average 94.75 in the series.His wife’s presence and his own personal willpower made his operation successful.
Bradman joined a stock breaking firm as he didn’t want to be a professional cricketer and learnt the art of stockbroking in the firm of a friend that gave him a job.After working hours he could play Cricket.For 6 hours he would work as an apprentice in a stockbreaking firm and then practice Cricket.
In Australia in 1936, in his first series as Captain Bradman lost the first 2 tests.In the third test he scored a matchwinning 270 after his side ws 97 for 5 wickets.He followed that with scores of 212 and 169.
In 1938 he averaged 108.After that period Bradman lost 8 years due to the War.In his first series after the war afer an initial loss of form Bradman scored 187 and 234In 1947-48 Bradman averaged 138 against an Indian Side that toured Australia.In 1948 in his last series against England he scored 138 at Trent Bridge and 173 at Headingley.Sadly at the Oval he bowed down in his final test scoring a pair.This was his last test innings.When he returned it was like a Christ having delivered his last sermon After the war he was not the same player. Still he scored prolifically which amazed opponents.Laker and Bedser were simply amazed that Bradman before the war was a better player.To them the post-war Bradman was the greatest batsman they had bowled to.
Bradman scored 6, 996 runs in 52 tests at an Average of 99.94 scoring 29 test Centuries.In first –class Cricket Bradman scored 28, 067 runs at an average of 95.14 scoring 117 Centuries.He was alos one of the all -time graet captains winning 15 out of 20 tests.He led what was arguably the best test team ever in 1948.
* After his retirement Bradman devoted his life to business, Charity work and also became a national selector in 1960.The Don became the first Australian Test Captain to become Chairman of Selectors.The Don however led a private life and often distanced himself from the public.Several former Cricketers recall the efforts he made to promote Charity.Bradman also did successfully in the Stock-breaking business.Sir Don rated Sachin Tendulakr the greatset batsman of the modern era ahead of Lara and Viv Richards and Barry Richards and Arthur Morris as the greatest opening batsman.Ray Lindwall and Dennis Lillee wee his pick od fast bolwers and Bill O’Reilly as his greatest spinner.He rated Everton Weekes as the best WEst Indian Batsman ever and Gary Sobers the graetest Cricketer ever.He died in at an old age of 94 in January 2001 .Wisden rated him the Cricketer of the Century.
* It would take 2 Viv Richards or 2 Brian Lara’s to match one Bradman.True he did not face as great fast bowling as Sunil Gavaskar or Viv Richards but remember he batted on wet, unconvered pitches.He would have averaged atleast 75 runs in the recent eras of Tendulkar, Lara Etc.He scored at the most breathtaking scoring rate which the modern greats cannot match.(still holds test record of 309 runs in aday) and thus would have even beaten Viv Richards as a match-winner.He also has scored the greatset average percentage score out of the total team’s score, ever.That Jack Hobbs and George Headley were better players on wet pitches or Hutton was technically more sound can’t deny the fact that even such greats were not on the same pedestal as Bradman.It is almost unbelievable that such a player will be resurrected.
By Harsh Thakor