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Donald Bradman

Cricketer, Sporting Personality & Writer

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permission: contact the Mortlock Library of South Australiana
Image Number B7171

Donald George Bradman was born at Cootamundra, NSW, on 27 August 1908 and died on February 25 2001. The Bradman family moved to Bowral in 1911, a district where cricket was a popular sport. Young Bradman showed an early interest, and at the age of twelve scored his first century for Bowral High School. He scored his first century against another state when selected to play for the Sydney club St George in the Sheffield Shield side in 1926; and against England in the 1928-1929 Test Series. Bradman captained the Australian side for the 1938 tour of England, where he scored his third consecutive double century, and was presented with a Royal Worcester porcelain vase, a unique trophy of which he is still immensely proud. Interrupted by World War II, Bradman returned to cricket, as Australian captain, in the triumphant 1948 tour of England – every game played was a win for Australia. In the same year he announced his retirement.

Bradman's overall performance in Shield and Test cricket is without parallel. His total of 117 first-class centuries (including 37 double centuries) is still a record for any Australian. He served on the Cricket Committee of the SACA for 26 years, was President for 8 years, a Trustee for 39 years, and a State and Australian selector for 33 years.

Bradman was knighted in 1949 for his services to cricket and Commonwealth relations, and he was created Companion of the Order of Australia in 1979.

"Farewell to cricket", Bradman's autobiography, was published in 1950, and two instructional books on the game of cricket in 1935 and 1958.

"Bradman was – and is – "The Don": the adored hero, almost demi-god, of the cricket field, against whom all other batsmen have been measured and found wanting…More than thirty years after he stepped down from the pinnacle of fame, his fan mail is still enormous: much larger than is received by the usual public figure. A revealing point is that countless letters arrive from people who were not even born when he was playing first-class cricket. The legend is so potent that it continuously renews the world's curiosity and interest."[M.F. Page. Bradman, the illustrated biography, p.346.]

Don Bradman married Jessie Menzies (d. 1997) on 30 April 1932; they had one son and one daughter.



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