100 years ago the most outstanding sportsman of his time, or any other, was born in Cootamundra New South Wales. Bradman batted on a different planet to everyone else of his time, and before or since. He changed the relationship between Australia and Britain irrevocably as he became a symbol of Australia's growing maturity as an independent nation.
His Test stats:
M 52 I 80 NO 10 R 6996 HS 334 Av. 99.94 100s 29 50s 13
There's so much to marvel at even in those figures. Only 13 Test 50s - because he made 29 centuries. His average is over 30 runs ahead of the next nearest man who played any decent number of Tests.
In 1930 he made 974 runs in the Ashes series, including 309 in one day at Headingley. Bodyline was manufactured largely as a tactic to combat Bradman and was considered a success in this sense - yet he still averaged 56 in that series. He scored 10 Test double centuries and two triples. 117 first class centuries in 338 innings. Highest first class score of 452 not out.
You can go on and on but you get the point. The man was extraordinary. Hats off to Sir Don and happy birthday wherever you are sir
His Test stats:
M 52 I 80 NO 10 R 6996 HS 334 Av. 99.94 100s 29 50s 13
There's so much to marvel at even in those figures. Only 13 Test 50s - because he made 29 centuries. His average is over 30 runs ahead of the next nearest man who played any decent number of Tests.
In 1930 he made 974 runs in the Ashes series, including 309 in one day at Headingley. Bodyline was manufactured largely as a tactic to combat Bradman and was considered a success in this sense - yet he still averaged 56 in that series. He scored 10 Test double centuries and two triples. 117 first class centuries in 338 innings. Highest first class score of 452 not out.
You can go on and on but you get the point. The man was extraordinary. Hats off to Sir Don and happy birthday wherever you are sir
