Don Bradman

DON BRADMAN d2001. Australian cricket idol widely acknowledged to be the greatest batsman of all time. Over his 20 year career his test captain Bill Woodfull described him as being worth "three normal batsmen". The English team of 1932-33 devised a still controversial tactic of bowling called "Bodyline" to try to curb Bradmans scoring. In 1948 he captained the unbeaten Australian Touring team that became known as "The Invincibles". Bradman famously was out for a duck in his final test appearance at The Oval in August 1948 when needing just 4 runs to ensure maintaining his career test average above the magical 100. He played 52 tests scoring 6996 runs at an average of 99.94. A complex driven man he did not enjoy the adulation that his fame brought him and in later years became reclusive despite maintaining a pre-eminent position in the game as an administrator / selecter / writer and adviser into his retirement.