Whether you're a cricket fan or not, you have probably heard of Sir Don Bradman. This article will cover the life and career of the great batsman as well as his relationship to Jessie Martha Menzies. Bradman and Jessie's love story can be found here.
Sir Don Bradman
Australian cricketer Sir Don Bradman. Known affectionately as "The Don" by his teammates, Bradman was a legend in the sport. Bradman, a true cricket fanatic gave his whole life to the sport. Bradman's numerous achievements in the game earned him many accolades and awards.
Bradman decided to withdraw from a tour to New Zealand in 1946 because of ill health. Bradman spent the winter of 1946 contemplating whether he had played his final match. A doctor had advised him against returning to the field as he was due to be captain of Australia in the 1946-47 Ashes series. However, he accepted to play in the Test series lead-up fixtures. He scored two centuries.
His batting style
Don Bradman's unconventional batting style meant that bowlers had to develop 'Bodyline tactics' to limit run scoring. Bradman was also unable to play for long periods due to the Second World War. He has written about his batting method, but never practiced it.
Don Bradman, who was just eleven years old, developed his rotary style in batting. He started out by playing imaginary Test Matches, using a stump and a golf club. Then he began to practice the Magic Circle motion. After each delivery, he would make the appropriate stroke. This technique gave batsmen an unusual feeling and restricted their swing.
His career
Don Bradman began his cricket career at an early age when he played Saturday afternoon cricket with St George. Bradman was quickly noticed by selectors, and his bat skills were put to test. He was selected after he participated in trials and earned modest scores. Bradman was chosen to play in grade cricket for St. George in Sydney. He then went on to play for North Sydney's Kensington Club in Adelaide. In 1927, he scored his first test century in Melbourne. He then made his second century in Adelaide one year later.
Bradman was born Australia and grew to be a Bowral resident. Bowral is a small community in the southern highlands, New South Wales. Bradman had few friends and was able to keep himself busy by playing golf against a brick water tank. Bradman's cricket skills and love of the game would later pay off, as he would go on to score more than four hundred in a game.
His relationship with Jessie Martha Menzies
Jessie Martha Menzis and Don Bradman met while they were boarders at Bowral, NSW. They were married at St Paul's Anglican Church in Burwood, Sydney in 1920. Their marriage lasted 65 years, but not without its challenges. They had a strained relationship when their son, John, contracted polio, and their daughter, Shirley, was born with cerebral palsy. They eventually reconciled and John changed his last name from Bradman to Jessie after Jessie died.
Don Bradman lost his competitive edge in 1997 after his wife's passing. In cricket, he stopped playing. Despite his decline, he still managed to make a name for himself in sport. In the same year that his wife passed away, Bradman hosted a meeting between Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne. Bradman was not seen at the Adelaide Oval once more after that meeting. He was diagnosed with pneumonia in December 2000. He died on February 25, 2001 at the age of 92.