BRADMAN ON SHOW

Mt Benger Mail, 9 February 1938, Page 4

BRADMAN ON SHOW

“HUSKY GUY” WHO BROKE TWO BATS They wanted to see Bradman — but . . . ! Well, candidly, Don wasn’t the gallant host they expected him to be, states an Australian writer. International athletes passing through Melbourne recently had but one thought—Bradman. First came the South African team for the Empire Games. Could they see Bradman? The next' day brought the British team for the Empire Games and the United States and German players for the international tennis test. They, too, wanted to see Bradman. The* tennis players even deserted their practice. All wanted to see this phenomenon who has the cricket world by the whiskers. . Whether. they were impressed I do not know. They were too

polite to express an opinion. But as many cricket addicts were far from satisfied with the display given, I fear me the tennis folk left tre grodnd rather bored, wondering just what it was all about, and confused as to why Bradman was such a national hero. And if they felt just that way we must confess that we ourselves saw little cause for hero worship in the Bradman exhibition.

No sooner had the game started than Donald George broke a bat. Then came a slight delay through rain that sent the players off the field. A much longer delay, and soon after the resumption Bradman broke another bat. Just before tea the period of wearying expectation ended—Bradman was out. On neither day was Donald Bradmanesque.

They might think Bradman a great guy, but I know the Americans are still wondering why the bally-hoo. The thing that impressed Mako most was that Bradman broke two bats. It took a husky guy to do that I