Remembering Don Bradman on his 108th birth anniversary
Born on August 27, 1908, he was a master batsman throughout his magnificent career, far ahead of everyone else of his generation.
In Short
- Sir Donald Bradman is arguably the greatest batsman to have ever played the game of cricket
- Bradman had a career average of 99.94
- He was out for a duck in his last Test innings
Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman is arguably the greatest batsman to have ever played the game of cricket. No other batsman in the history of the game even remotely matched his reputation as a player.
Born on August 27, 1908, he was a master batsman throughout his magnificent career, far ahead of everyone else of his generation. Wisden regarded him as "the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all games." (Virender Sehwag celebrates Don Bradman's birthday with a unique tweet)
Bradman finished his international career with a batting average of 99.94 (runs per innings) and if he had scored just four runs in his last Test innings at the Oval in 1948, he would have finished with a Test average of 100 runs an innings.
He played 52 Test matches for Australia, coming out to bat in 80 innings and amassing 6996 runs with a highest score of 334 runs.
In all first-class cricket, Bradman played 234 matches, scoring a massive 28067 runs with a career average of 95.14. His highest score in first-class was 452 not out.
Bradman's contribution to the game is not just restricted to mere statistics and records. He provided enjoyment not just to thousands of people, but to millions.
On his 108th birth anniversary, we take a look at some of The Don's best-known quotes and records that make him one of the finest sportsmen of all times.
FAVOURITE INNINGS
Bradman rated the record 334 he scored at Leeds in 1930 as "technically flawed" and said the 254 he scored against England at Lord's in 1930 was much better.
"Every ball went exactly where I wanted it to go until the ball that got me out," Bradman had famously admitted.
ON MISSING A CAREER AVERAGE OF 100
Bradman was bowled second ball by England's Eric Hollies for a duck in his last innings at The Oval in 1948, when he was within four runs of averaging 100 in Test cricket.
"I'm very sorry I made a duck. I'd have been glad if I'd made those four extra runs to have an average of 100. I didn't know it at the time and I don't think the Englishmen knew it either. I think if they had known it they may have been generous enough to let me get four."
ON SACHIN TENDULKAR
The Don once said that batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar played more like him than any other batsman.
"I saw him playing on television and was struck by his technique, so I asked my wife to come look at him. Now I never saw myself play, but I felt that this player is playing with a style similar to mine, and she looked at the TV and said yes, there is a similarity between the two...his compactness, technique, stroke production - it all seemed to gel!"
THE DON'S NUMBERS
Holds the record for the highest batting average in Test cricket - 99.94
Crossed the 200 mark twelve times in his cricket career.
Only player in the world to have scored 5000 runs against a single opposition. He has scored 5028 runs against England.
Holds the record for the maximum number of double hundreds in a series (Ashes 1930). The number stands at three double hundreds in a series.
Only batsman in Test history to have scored 974 runs in a single series (Ashes 1930).
Holds the record for the highest 5th wicket (405 runs with Sid Barnes) and 6th wicket (346 with Jack Fingleton) partnership in Test matches.
Remains the only batsman to have scored six consecutive centuries.
Hit just six sixes in his Test career, five against England and one versus India.