![]() A water tank, mounted on a curved brick stand, stood on a paved area behind the family home. He invented his own solo cricket game, using a cricket stump for a bat, and a golf ball. īradman practised batting incessantly during his youth. Emily had hailed from Mittagong in the NSW Southern Highlands, and in 1911, when Don Bradman was about two-and-a-half years old, his parents decided to relocate to Bowral, close to Mittagong, to be closer to Emily's family and friends, as life at Yeo Yeo was proving difficult. That house is now the Bradman Birthplace Museum. His mother, Emily, gave birth to him at the Cootamundra home of Granny Scholz, a midwife. ![]() Bradman's parents lived in the hamlet of Yeo Yeo, near Stockinbingal. Also, one of his great-grandfathers was one of the first Italians to migrate to Australia in 1826. When Bradman played at Cambridge in 1930 as a 21 year old on his first tour of England, he took the opportunity to trace his forebears in the region. His grandfather Charles Andrew Bradman left Withersfield, Suffolk, for Australia. ![]() Bradman was of English heritage on both sides of his family. He had a brother, Victor, and three sisters-Islet, Lilian and Elizabeth May. In 2009, he was inducted posthumously as an inaugural member into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.īradman's birthplace at Cootamundra is now a museumĭonald George Bradman was the youngest son of George and Emily (née Whatman) Bradman, and was born on 27 August 1908 at Cootamundra, New South Wales (NSW). On the centenary of his birth, 27 August 2008, the Royal Australian Mint issued a $5 commemorative gold coin with Bradman's image. Bradman's image has appeared on postage stamps and coins, and a museum dedicated to his life was opened while he was still living. Almost 50 years after his retirement as a Test player, in 1997, Prime Minister John Howard of Australia called him the "greatest living Australian". Even after he became reclusive in his declining years, his opinion was highly sought, and his status as a national icon was still recognised. Following an enforced hiatus due to the Second World War, he made a dramatic comeback, captaining an Australian team known as " The Invincibles" on a record-breaking unbeaten tour of England.Ī complex, highly driven man, not given to close personal relationships, īradman retained a pre-eminent position in the game by acting as an administrator, selector and writer for three decades following his retirement. The focus of attention on his individual performances strained relationships with some teammates, administrators and journalists, who thought him aloof and wary. He hated the constant adulation, however, and it affected how he dealt with others. As a captain and administrator, Bradman was committed to attacking, entertaining cricket he drew spectators in record numbers. A controversial set of tactics, known as Bodyline, was specially devised by the England team to curb his scoring. Before his 22nd birthday, he had set many records for top scoring, some of which still stand, and became Australia's sporting idol at the height of the Great Depression.ĭuring a 20-year playing career, Bradman consistently scored at a level that made him, in the words of former Australia captain Bill Woodfull, "worth three batsmen to Australia". Bradman's meteoric rise from bush cricket to the Australian Test team took just over two years. The story that the young Bradman practised alone with a cricket stump and a golf ball is part of Australian folklore. Bradman's career Test batting average of 99.94 has been cited as the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport. Sir Donald George Bradman, AC (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001), nicknamed "The Don", was an Australian international cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time.
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