Have you ever heard about Sir Don Bradman? If you have, then no worries, my readers, but if you haven't heard about him, then read this full blog.
His actual name was Donald Bradman but in his playing days he was known as simply 'Don'. He played his game with skill, passion and always liked defying the opposing bowlers. Every single bowler found it tough to make him out because he picked up lines and lengths very quickly. Every bowler toiled in front of him and at last he would break the confidence, making them put loose deliveries.
Now, from all the bowlers who bowled to him, only some of them have lived to tell the tale of bowling to him. In Australian folklore, it is said that having a part of the stump as a bat and a golf ball as a ball for practicing, he became a very tough batsman to bowl to as it is said that hitting a golf ball with one cricket stump was very tough and a lot of concentration was needed for that. Many said that in his 20 year career he was equal to three Australian batsman's strength and skill. The infamous 'Bodyline' tactic was also made for him and his team, but, because of his attacking style of play, he drew many spectators.
This created a problem. He however, did not like lot of praise, and this created many problems in his team. Due to his attention to his individual performances, his relationships was shaken with others like his teammates and coaches.
After this, there was a big gap that was imposed due to the 2nd World War, but after it was over, he and his team made a very dramatic and historic comeback, which made the Australians to be known as 'The Invincibles'.
He was very young when he started playing cricket. He was 9. He scored his first ever century at the age of 12. The cricket stump and golf ball practice really helped him a lot as it improved his skills of quick reactions to fast balls that are swinging or moving.
In his first class career, he had scored a very aggressive and record-breaking score at the Sydney Cricket Ground(SCG) and that too against a strong domestic team of Queensland.
The Bodyline theory was introduced after a his record-breaking tour of England in 1930 and the South African tour as many commentators and players, especially English players, had noticed his weakness to it. In my opinion, if this theory was not there, then lot of injured players wouldn't have been there. Bradman survived the tactics with ease, but some in his team were injured severely. Douglas Jardine introduced it, which is why he is infamous for this tactic.
In the Bodyline tour of England, he was bowled for a famous duck by Bowes. He got out by dragging a short ball onto the stumps while trying to swivel-pull the ball. This was famous, and I am sure Bradman regretted that.
One phase of his career was dark, just like what happens to other batsmen nowadays. In one part of his career, he averaged less than 18 in 5 matches! Kohli and Dhoni are two batsmen whom I have known to have an average less than or just a little more than that.
He took his wife on a honeymoon, and listen, it was a tour to West Indies for the Australian team. Strange, isn't it? Never do that to your new wife. Take her on a proper honeymoon.
During the last phase of his career, he had abdominal pain and was operated. This was an intense moment for him. He lost a lot of blood, but didn't lose hope. He slowly recovered after this.
The "Invincible" team's captain had troubled war years. He was diagnosed with a disease, which makes you have pain in particular places on the body.
This is a shortened summary of the life of a great batsman, who now is a curiosity to young batsman. He was great, he is great and he will be great forever. I give my salutations to the greatest batsman of all time who has made a name for himself in history books with the average scoring rate of 99.94
Everyone's cricket knowledge giver,
Uthkarsh V
No comments:
Post a Comment