That is Sir Don Bradman for you

On 27th August, 1908, while the cricketing world was occupied with events like Nottinghamshire visiting Scotland and the country championship guzzling along, somewhere in the town of Cootamundra in New South Wales, Emily and George Bradman were blessed with a son. That son would one day would go on to record his name as one of the greatest cricketers to have played the game, and would create a career trajectory that would not just make the history books, but also remain unmatched. 64 years after his retirement from the game, the sparks of his brilliance still remain radiant.

How the fledgling Sir Donald spent hours hitting a golf ball with a stump when his parents moved to Bowral when he was two-and-a-half is part of the legendary tales in the Australian folklore. He would hit the ricocheted ball over and over again for hours on end. Bradman’s success was attributed to his impeccable reaction, swiftness and hand-eye coordination. Deprived of professional coaching early on, his methods were unorthodox, but he developed an eye for the game like no other. His transition from what the Aussies call backyard cricket to the Test team only took about two years. Brimming with talent, he was waiting to showcase himself to the world. He scored his first hundred at the age of 12 while playing for the Bowral Public School. His performances helped elevate him to the first-class level in a very short span. On his first-class debut, he scored a century (118), and things only got better for him after that.

It was perhaps his small-town conviction that moulded him into a man with the spirit of steel. His approach towards his game was tough and uncompromising; his indomitable appetite for runs was unrivaled. While the others only aimed at scoring a century, Bradman went beyond the ordinary and notched up numerous double and triple centuries. He was an idol of grit, focus and intent.

By his tenth first-class game, he had made the cut to Australia’s Test team, and scored his first century in his second Test. In the middle of scoring one his early centuries, the great man was apparently believed to be suffering from ill-health, but he did not show a sign of it. He went about scoring runs like a run-machine.

Pundits pondered the effectiveness of his technique in the English conditions, but he silenced all their doubts. He returned from his first tour of England after scoring 974 runs at an average of 139.14, having scored a double century at Lord’s (254), a triple at Leeds (309) and another double at the Oval (232). Such was the extent of his dominance that England came up with the controversial strategy to curb his scoring rate, known as ‘Bodyline’. Bradman was successful, as successful as anybody of that age could be. His attacking method of play was a hit with the viewers who flocked in record-breaking numbers to watch the great man in action.

It has widely been reported that he was disliked from certain quarters and by certain cricketers during and after his time. His sense of purpose and ambition didn’t go down too well with his teammates and others. The public support and admiration that he received for his performances created crevices in his relationships with his contemporaries. But none of that bothered the great man – his focus and will were the only two driving factors for him. Did the criticism hamper his success or his determination to continue on the path to greatness? Never. That is what makes him a champion of sorts.

Bradman’s voyage with cricket continued for three decades after his retirement, as he continued to be involved as administrator, selector and writer. To even contemplate accomplishing laurels of the Don’s calibre is not a task designed for the faint-hearted. Had he scored 4 more runs than he actually did, his average would have touched 100 – a statistic that would have been considered one of the greatest achievements in sporting history. But he fell short, ending his career with an average of 99.94. That in itself is a remarkable achievement. Till date, this record remains fresh and untouched; basking in the glow of reflected glory of the number of runs he scored and his contribution to the game of cricket. That, in a nutshell, is the Don for you.