Bradmanesque
Manoj Madhavan -
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 1:15 PM
The only time Bradman got out in his 90s was at the age of 92. He died at the age of 92. Bradman did not get his hundered this time but had he been alive he would have turned 100 today.
Bradman was special but he too was human. If you read Ian Chappel’s article "My fight with the Don" (27th August, page 19 HT) and "Bradman’s Best" by Roland Perry released in 2001 you will find lot of common things.
If you look at his XI
Barry Richards
Arthur Moris
Don Bradman
Sachin Tendulkar
Gary Sobers
Don Tallon
Ray Lindwall
Dennis Lillee
Alec Bedser
Bill O’Reilly
Clarence Grimmett
Wally Hamond
He was stubborn in many ways. Don Tallon as a wicket keeper in his XI completely perplexes me when there was Adam Gilchrist. Don Tallon only averaged 17.13. Viv Richards, Shane Warne and Wasim Akram’s exclusion will always be a mystery.
If you look at the XI, there were eight with whom he had played, there were seven Australians in the team, Sachin Tendulkar was the only player who was playing when the team selection took place. All this suggests that Bradman was comfortable only with those he had previously worked with. Even if this meant that some good talent was being wasted.
Just for the record:
1. Only four countries had the privilege of playing against Bradman. (England, India, South Africa and West Indies)
2. Melboure was his favourite ground where he scored nine hundereds and averaged 128 in 11 Tests
3. Batting position No. 4 was the unlucky for Bradman. He averaged just below 54 in that position
4. He was run out and hit wicket only ones. But, like most batsman he also had a higher percentage of caught out dismissals
5. For Sachin Tendulkar Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) might have been the best hunting ground but for Brandman it was the least. He averaged only 58.5 at SCG
6. Out of the 52 Tests Bradman played, 37 were against England, Where he scored 19 hundreds with an average of 89.79
7. In a Test career lasting only 80 innings (52 Matches) Bradman scored under 50 38 times. This included 7 ducks