Donald Bradman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sir
Donald Bradman
AC

Bradman in 1930
Personal information
Full name	Donald George Bradman
Born	(1908-08-27)27 August 1908 Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia
Died	25 February 2001(2001-02-25) (aged 92) Kensington Park, South Australia, Australia
Nickname	The Don, The Boy from Bowral, Braddles, the White Headley
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm leg break
Role	Batsman
International information
National side	Australia (1928–1948)
Test debut (cap 124)	30 November 1928 v England
Last Test	18 August 1948 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1927–1934	New South Wales
1935–1949	South Australia
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 52 234 Runs scored 6,996 28,067 Batting average 99.94 95.14 100s/50s 29/13 117/69 Top score 334 452* Balls bowled 160 2,114 Wickets 2 36 Bowling average 36.00 37.97 5 wickets in innings 0 0 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 1/8 3/35 Catches/stumpings 32/– 131/1
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 4 December 2014

Sir Donald 'Don' Bradman (born August 27, 1908 – died February 25, 2001) was an amazing Australian cricket player. Many people called him The Don. He was a batsman, which means he was great at hitting the ball.

He is known as the best batsman of all time. In his last Test match, he only needed four more runs to have a batting average of 100. But he got "out for a duck," meaning he scored no runs. So, his average ended up at 99.94, which is still much higher than anyone else's.

Don Bradman was a huge hero in Australia. People even voted him the greatest Australian of the 20th century. He was not just a great player, but also a good captain and a smart thinker about the game. Even when he was older, he could still hit the ball well.

Cricket Playing Days

The Bodyline Series

In the 1930s, England played against Australia in a series of matches. England's team had a new and unusual plan. They brought many fast bowlers, like Harold Larwood and Bill Voce. This was not normal for a cricket team.

Bradman quickly realized England was trying something new. Their bowlers aimed the ball very fast at the batsman's body. This was called "bodyline" bowling. Australian newspapers said it was unfair and dangerous. Back then, batsmen did not wear helmets.

Bradman struggled at first against this new bowling style. In one match, he was out on his very first ball. This was a big shock because he usually scored many runs. But Bradman was smart and changed how he batted.

He found a way to hit the ball where there were fewer fielders. This helped him score well, even against the tough "bodyline" bowling. He averaged 56.57 runs per innings in that series. Many people think this series changed Bradman's batting style forever.

Personal Life

Bradman was married to Jessie Martha Menzies for 65 years. She passed away in 1999. Bradman often said how important Jessie was to his success.

They had three children. Their first child sadly died very young. Their second child, John, got a serious illness called polio. Their third child, Shirley, had cerebral palsy from birth. Family life was sometimes hard for them.

Death

Sir Donald Bradman died from pneumonia in Kensington Park, South Australia. He passed away on February 25, 2001.

Images for kids

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  Donald Bradman

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  Bradman's birthplace at Cootamundra is now a museum

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  Bradman with his Wm. Sykes bat, in the early 1930s.

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  Bradman bowled by Bowes at the MCG, in front of a world record crowd.

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  Bradman during an interstate series at Adelaide Oval, 1946.

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  This graph shows Don Bradman's Test cricket record.

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  This graph shows Don Bradman's First Class cricket record.

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  The Bradman Stand at the Adelaide Oval

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  Bradman with his wife in 1938.

See also

In Spanish: Don Bradman para niños