DON BRADMAN

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1930, Page 7

DON BRADMAN

ALL ROUND BRILLIANCE, TYPICAL COUNTRY LAD. The fine score of 236 registered, by Don. Bradman, the young New South Welshman, against Worcester in the opening match of tho Australian eleven’s tour in England and his effort against Leicester placo another feather in the- cap of this brilliant young batsman, whose rise to world, fame has been meteoric. In the cables it was mentioned that Bradman’s score was the highest ever made against Worcester. He holds a more enviable distinction, however. He is the holder of thb world’s record, for the highest score in first-class cricket, this achievement having been made when he scored 452 not out in the Sheffield match between New South Wales and Queensland, at Sydney, early this year. ■ s And now in the first game : of the tour in England he is credited with a double century. He has not wasted any time in getting going, and the indications are, with a continuance of ihis form, that he will exceed Victor Trumper’s record of >2576 runs for a season by a member of an Australian team in England. In Sheffield Shield matches in Australia last season young Bradman had ten innings for an ’.aggregate of 894 runs. On two occasions ho was not out, so he came but with the splendid average of 111.75 runs an innings. Curiously enough, in the previous seawhen. the English . team was in Australia, his aggregate in Sheffield matches was " only one short of that of last season. His average was 148.83. Amon" his scores of that season was one oi 340 not out. against Victoria, which up to that date was the biggest score that had been registered by a New South Wales player. In . the Test matches against tho Englishmen Bradman’s aggregate was 468 runs, giving him an average of 66.85 runs. He also has the distinction of having registered the highest aggregate of any player in Australia in first-class cricket in oho season.

And now something of the player himself. ' R. W. E. Wilmot, writing in the Argus, states that Bradman was born on August 27, 1908, and commenced, his cricketing career by playing for the Bowral School at the age of 12. “Thus early he displayed the grit and determination which mark his play to-day/’ continues tho writer. “In his first match he made 55 not out. In 1920 he was picked for Bowral High School in his first ‘big* match against Mittagong. He contributed 115 not out to a score of 156 and took eight wickets. Naturally he was the hero of ths match. In the return game his score was 72 retired. Nothing .could keep him away from tho cricket fields, and ho waa th® scorer for th® Bowral team in the district competition. One day his team was a player short,’, and he filled the vacancy, making 37 not out and 29. . ; \

“For a while Bradman deserted cricket and devoted himself to lawn tennis, in which he became equallyproficient. The call of cricket, however, could not be resisted, and after three years’ absence from the field, he, was chosen for the Bowral team. His reentry to the game opened disastrously, for he was bowled first ball in his first game. This reverse only made him more determined to succeed, and in the semi-final game against Wingello he scored 23 and 66. Gradually lie earned the distinction of being the boy champion of the district. In the 1925-26 season ho scored 985 runs in nine completed innings in the district competition, and thus had a naverage of 109.4 runs. As an indication of his all-round ability, it may bo mentioned that lie was awarded badges for fielding and for taking tho most catches in the season, while he was second in the bowling averages, taking 35 wickets at an average cost of 8.1 runs. “Bradman, as a result of these achievements, was chosen to play for tho New South Wales second elevon against Queensland. Ho scored 37 runs, and Mr. R. L. Jones, one of the selectors, then induced him to join the St; George’s team. . ADcr mo:/ : cnirT the

which earned Bradman his great chance, the writer says that his century against the Englishmen in th® third. Test match in Melbourne, in the 1928-29 season was a brilliant effort which changed the whole complexion of the game. He wore down the opposition at a critical stage and batted like a veteran. To his natural ability as a cricketer Bradman brings grit, modesty, eagerness, and enthusiasm, and. attributes much of his success to the coaching and interest of Mr. R. L. Jones, who has been his mentor since he went to Sydney. “Bradman is a typical country lad,” concludes the writer, “and in his cricket he still retains some of the crudities, tho result of play on country pitches. He has the determination to face the ■best bowler in the world with no lessconcern than if ho were merely the champion of Bowral. His courage makes him meet a crisis and carry the side on his back if need be.”