5 interesting facts about Don Bradman

Sir Donald Bradman is undoubtedly the greatest batsman in the history of the cricket. In fact, he can easily be called the greatest cricketer of all time, but there are those who vouch for Sir Garfield Sobers. Here are 5 interesting facts about Don Bradman.

India has always been a hotbed for Bradman comparisons. In the 70s and 80s, Sunil Gavaskar scaled peaks hitherto unknown, and there were clamours that he was at par with the Don. A generation later, Sachin Tendulkar arrived to steal Gavaskar’s crown. And people were convinced that the Don couldn’t have been better than him. These opinions, rather fallacies, require an analytical survey. For now, let us revel in the legend of Bradman.

1) Century in 18 minutes

In November, 1931 a 23 year old Bradman played for Blackheath. In the opposition was a certain Bill Black. Black, incidentally, had bowled Bradman in a game, a few weeks back. The man had the audacity to boast about it. The news reached Bradman’s ears.

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Those were the days of eight ball overs and it took Bradman just three overs to get his hundred. The sequence was as follows — 6, 6, 4, 2, 4, 4, 6, 1, 6, 4, 4, 6, 6, 4, 6, 4, 6, 6, 1, 4, 4 and 6. He brought up his 100 in 18 minutes and from 22 balls.

Black pleaded to his captain to be taken off, with good reason. He had been smacked for 62 from his two overs. Out of Blackheath’s score of 357, Bradman got 256, an innings that included 29 fours and 14 sixes. Those harbouring doubts about Bradman’s efficiency in the T20 era, would do well to learn of this.