Don Bradman

Sir Donald George Bradman  (27 August 1908 – 25 February 2001) was an Australian cricketer. Often called "The Don", he is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batters of all time. He scored 6,996 runs in his Test career at a world record batting average of 99.94 runs per completed innings.

Playing career
Bradman made his first-class debut in the 1927–28 season, playing for the News South Wales state team. He made his Test debut in November 1928, playing for Australia against England at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. His Test career continued until August 1948, when he made his final appearance at The Oval.

Personal life
Bradman married his childhood sweetheart Jessie Martha Menzies on 30 April 1932, and they were together for 65 years until Jessie died in 1997. Bradman said on many occasions how important his wife was to him, once saying: "I would never have achieved what I achieved without Jessie". Don and Jessie Bradman had three children, but family life was difficult. Their first child died young in 1936. Their second child (John, born in 1939) caught poliomyelitis, a serious viral disease, and their third child (Shirley, born 1941) had multiple sclerosis.

Death
Bradman died of pneumonia on 25 February 2001, aged 92, at his home in Kensington Park, Adelaide.

References

Bibliography


Category:1908 births
Category:2001 deaths
Category:Australian cricketers
Category:Knights Bachelor
Category:Sportspeople from New South Wales
Category:Order of Australia
Category:Australian sport administrators
Category:International cricketers (men)