Generally regarded as the greatest cricketer ever to play the game, Don Bradman (27 April 1908-25 Feb., 2001) averaged 99.94 runs per innings during his illustrious career. He continued to play test cricket until the age of 40, when in 1948 he led an Australian team touring England, UK. The team did not lose a match on that tour and are now legendary, they are known as The Invincibles.
In his last cricket innings, he needed only 4 runs to attain a test cricket batting average off 100. He got out for a duck (0 runs) and finished with an average of 99.94.
He was declared Wisden Cricketer of the Year, 1931 and was appointed Commander of the Order of Australia (AC), 1979. Sir Don was Knighted for services to cricket in 1949 and was named Australian ‘Sportsman of the Century’ in 1999.
A minute’s silence was observed at every state and international game following his death.
His score of 334 against England in 1930 is now the equal second highest ever Test score by an Australian batsman. The highest was scored by Matthew Hayden in October, 2003. Bradman shares the second highest with Mark Taylor.
Awarded life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club, which was extended to an honorary vice-presidency in 1988 ‘in recognition of his unique contribution to the game of cricket’.
Famously learnt how to bat as a child by hitting a golf Has stands named after him at most major Australian cricket grounds, as well as the Bradman Oval at his birthplace of Bowral, New South Wales.
The post office box of the Australian Broadcasting Commission is 9994—a homage to Bradman’s Test batting average of 99.94.
The only established batsman in the history of cricket never to have gotten out in the 90s.
