Don Bradman

Sir
Don Bradman
AC
Bradman in 1930
Personal information
Full nameDonald George Bradman
Born(1908-08-27)27 August 1908
Cootamundra, New South Wales
Died25 February 2001(2001-02-25) (aged 92)
Kensington Park, Adelaide, South Australia
NicknameThe Don
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm leg break
RoleBatsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 124)30 November 1928 v England
Last Test18 August 1948 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1927–1934New South Wales
1935–1949South Australia
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 52 234
Runs scored 6,996 28,067
Batting average 99.94 95.14
100s/50s 29/13 117/69
Top score 334 452*
Balls bowled 160 2,114
Wickets 2 36
Bowling average 36.00 37.97
5 wickets in innings 0 0
10 wickets in match 0 0
Best bowling 1/8 3/35
Catches/stumpings 32/– 131/1
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 4 December 2014

Sir Donald George Bradman AC (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001) was an Australian cricketer. Often called "The Don", he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batters of all time. He scored 6,996 runs in his Test career at a world record batting average of 99.94 runs per completed innings.

Playing career

Bradman made his first-class debut in the 1927–28 season, playing for the News South Wales state team. He made his Test debut in November 1928, playing for Australia against England at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. His Test career continued until August 1948, when he made his final appearance at The Oval.[1]

Personal life

Bradman married his childhood sweetheart Jessie Martha Menzies on 30 April 1932, and they were together for 65 years until Jessie died in 1997.[2][1] Bradman said on many occasions how important his wife was to him, once saying: "I would never have achieved what I achieved without Jessie".[3] Don and Jessie Bradman had three children, but family life was difficult. Their first child died young in 1936.[4] Their second child (John, born in 1939) caught poliomyelitis, a serious viral disease, and their third child (Shirley, born 1941) had multiple sclerosis.[4]

Death

Bradman died of pneumonia on 25 February 2001, aged 92, at his home in Kensington Park, Adelaide.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Don Bradman: Obituary". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. 2002. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  2. "'I was a terrible sight': Bradman was 12 when he met the girl he'd marry". Nine Entertainment. 24 August 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2025.
  3. Eason 2004, p. 55.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Question: What were the difficulties faced in Sir Donald Bradmans life?". Bradman Museum. Archived from the original on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 23 August 2008.

Bibliography

  • Eason, Alan (2004). The A-Z of Bradman. Scribe Publications. ISBN 978-1-9213-7216-2.