Don Bradman: The Gods God

Don Bradman: The Gods God

On the occasion of the 111th birth day of the legendary Sir Don Bradman, Google has paid its tribute to the legend and listed him on their Google Doodle on their home page. I join Google and million others to pay my tribute to the one and only Don Bradman. India and Australia share an extraordinary parallel in hero worshipping of their cricket legends. In India, cricket legend, Bharat Ratna, Sachin Tendulkar is considered as God by many of the cricket lovers and for Sachin, Sir Don was his God.

In the 1930's, with the country in deep economic depression and still grieving for the thousands killed in World War I, Bradman's achievements were a cause for Australian National pride. The spirit of the Don is evidenced from a statement by the former Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, who, during his visit to Sir Donald a few days before Bradman’s death, said “He had a great impact on Australian life, especially during the desperate years of the Depression. His prowess on the cricket field lifted the hopes and spirits of the people, who at times felt they had little else”.

The Nobel Laureate, Nelson Mandela, also the recipient of the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour of India, was an avid follower of the Don. One of Mandela's first questions to the former Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser, when Fraser met him in Cape Town's, Polls Moor Prison in 1986, was, “Tell me, Mr Fraser is Donald Bradman still alive?” Such was the charm and following of Bradman all across the globe. Four years later, when Mandela was released from the prison, Fraser handed over Don's signed bat for Mandela, which read “To Nelson Mandela in recognition of a great unfished innings – Don Bradman”.

In a career that spanned from 1928 to 1948, Bradman's winning scores, and rare failures, were the cause for celebration and despair that made National headlines, and delayed business and government meetings in Australia. Experts were found wanting in search for words of praise for his legendary batting skills.

Donald George Bradman was born in Cootamundra, NSW, on 27th August 1908, the youngest of five children of George and Emily Bradman. He was just 21 years old when he scored the highest number of runs by a single batsman in one day's play (309 runs not out) in the third Ashes test on 11 July 1930. He enjoys an unprecedented record average for the tests, which reads a staggering 99.94. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that was involved in broadcasting several of his memorable innings, has its postal address in all capital cities of Australia with a Post Office Box number 9994, Bradman's Test batting average (99.94). Bradman, known for his powerful forearms and swift footwork, was self-taught. He was a batting champion in high school at 12 and on the National team at 20, subsequently recording unprecedented scores and averages in the 52 international games that he played, which will remain eternally etched in the annals of cricket history.

He played his historic last innings, where he scored a rare “DUCK” bowled second ball by Eric Hollies, at the Oval, London in 1948. He scored runs on uncovered, uneven pitches at a staggering average, which represents the mental toughness that this man had. Even when England devastated Australia in the infamous body-line series of 1932-33, it was Bradman who stood apart with an average of 56 wearing protective gear, which can hardly be compared to the safety that modern gear provides. Bradman's achievements have been contextualised by comparing them with those of other sporting legends in a book, ''The Best of the Best,'' by Charles Davis, a Melbourne sports statistician. He has rated stars from different sports by measuring champions who were so far ahead of their rivals that they were in a class of their own. As per Davis's calculations, Bradman led the elite club of career-long achievers with a 4.4 rating followed by a fair distance by the legendary Brazilian soccer player Pelé at 3.7 and American Basketball player, Michael Jordan at 3.4.

A small museum has now been established at Bowral, where the Don grew up, with his consent, alongside the cricket field to record his career, which is now a tourist favourite. We had the offer and honour to present our Cricket Exhibition at the Bradman Museum but for reasons beyond our control we could not present our exhibition.

Sir Don played just five Tests against India, which was the first Cricket series tour for Independent Indian cricket team. The India-Australia series in 1947-48, was to be the last season at home for Don Bradman. The Indian fans who had heard legendary tales on the achievements of the Don were more keen to see how many runs 'Sir Don' would get against their team rather than what the outcome of the tour would be. The Don didn't disappoint, scoring over 700 runs as well as getting his 100th first class hundred playing against the Indians during this tour. The Don showed his class by welcoming the Indian touring team with a century, scoring 156 for South Australia.

In the year 2016 we (Nehru Science Centre) had the honour to present “Cricket Connects: India Australia” exhibition as a part of the Festival of India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and I was privileged to curate this exhibition. The richly illustrated exhibition catalogue can be downloaded for free from our website : www.nehrusciencecentre.gov.in

Although the Don has not played in India, he remains the most venerated cricketer in India for generations of cricketers including Sachin Tendulkar.

 
May he continue to throng the hearts of millions.