On this day: Sir Donald Bradman was born 116 years ago

Today, August 27, 2024, is the 116th birth anniversary of the legendary Australian cricketer Sir Donald Bradman. 

Sir Donald George Bradman is popularly known as “Sir Don Bradman” or “The Don”. He was born on August 27, 1908, in Cootamundra, New South Wales. 

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Sir Donald Bradman was one of the greatest batters of all time

Sir Don Bradman played first-class and international cricket between the 1927/28 and 1948/49 seasons. The right-handed batter is known as one of the greatest batters of all time. 

On November 30, 1928, Bradman made his Test debut during the Brisbane Test against England. He started his Test career with scores of 18 and one run in the Brisbane Test. However, in the next Test at Melbourne, the right-handed batter recorded his first Test half-century and century (79 and 112).

Bradman dominated international cricket for two decades. He was the first batter in Test cricket history to record more than one triple century. In the 1930 Leeds Test against England, the right-handed batter scored 334 runs. Later, in the 1934 Leeds Test against the hosts, he scored 304 runs. 

During the 1932 Adelaide Test against South Africa, Bradman scored 299 not out. He is still the only batter in Test cricket history to remain not out on 299 runs. The right-handed batter still holds the record for most 250s (5) and double-centuries (12) in Test cricket history.   

Sir Don Bradman played his last Test in 1948 at The Oval. It was the match in which he needed to score four runs to end his career with a batting average of 100 or more. However, Eric Hollies bowled him for a duck. 

Sir Don Bradman's career stats

Sir Don Bradman scored 6996 runs in 52 Tests (80 innings) with an incredible batting average of 99.94. The right-handed batter scored 29 centuries and 13 half-centuries in his Test career. As a leg-spinner, he also took wickets in his Test career. 

Sir Don Bradman ended his first-class career with 28067 runs in 234 matches (338 innings) with another special batting average of 95.14. He scored 117 centuries and 69 half-centuries in his first-class career. He also picked up 36 wickets in his first-class career.

Sir Donald Bradman's unbeaten Test records 

• Highest Test batting average (99.94) [at least 5 Test innings]
• Hundreds in most consecutive Test matches (6)
• The only player with three double-centuries in a Test series (The Ashes in England, 1930)
• Most Test double-hundreds (12)
• Most Test 250s (5)
• First player in Test cricket history to record more than one triple century. 
• Most runs in a bilateral Test series (974 runs during the Ashes 1930 in England)
• Most runs in a bilateral Test series by a captain (810 runs during the Ashes 1936/37 in Australia)
• Fastest 6000 Test runs (68 innings; 45 Tests)
  
  

Sir Donald Bradman's unbeaten records at The Ashes

• Most runs in the Ashes (5028 runs)
• Highest score by an Australian batter in the Ashes history (334 in the 1930 Leeds Test)
• Most hundreds in the Ashes (19 centuries)
• Most 50+ scores in the Ashes (19 centuries + 12 half-centuries = 31 50+ scores)
• Most runs in an Ashes series (974 runs during the Ashes 1930 in England)
• Most runs by a captain in an Ashes series (810 runs during the Ashes 1936/37 in Australia)