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26th Feb, 2001
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The cricketing world is today mourning the loss of
Sir Donald Bradman,
it's greatest ever batsman. Sir Donald, who was aged 92, died quietly at his
Adelaide home early yesterday.
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Much was written about Sir Donald during his career, and probably even more
has been written since his retirement from test cricket in 1948. However, his
impact and influence on the game can probably best be summed up by a simple
comparison of his batting average and those who come closest to approaching
it. Sir Donald averaged 99.94 in test matches and the next best are three
players each averaging just a fraction over 60 - R G Pollock (SAF, 60.97),
G A Headley (WIN, 60.83) and H Sutcliffe (ENG, 60.73).
Highest Batting Averages
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Set out below are some Sir Donald's major achievements.
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First Class Career Record
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| M |
Inns |
NO |
100s |
HS |
Runs |
Avg |
| 234 |
338 |
43 |
117 |
*452 |
28,067 |
95.14 |
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Sheffield Shield Record
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In Australia's domestic competition, then the Sheffield Shield, Sir Donald
played for New South Wales from 1927/28 to 1933/34 and for South Australia
from 1935/36 to 1948/49. He scored a century on debut (118 - New South Wales
v South Australia, Adelaide Oval 1927/28), and still holds the record for
the highest first class innings in Australia, 452 not out for New South Wales
v Queensland, in Sydney 1929/30.
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| M |
Inns |
NO |
50s |
100s |
HS |
Runs |
Avg |
| 62 |
96 |
15 |
20 |
36 |
*452 |
8,926 |
110.19 |
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Test Career Record
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Sir Donald's test career batting statistics are unique, and an analyis of his
batting broken down by opponent is given below.
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| Versus |
M |
Inns |
NO |
50s |
100s |
HS |
Runs |
Avg |
Ca |
St |
| England |
37 |
63 |
7 |
12 |
19 |
334 |
5028 |
89.79 |
20 |
0 |
| India |
5 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
201 |
715 |
178.75 |
6 |
0 |
| South Africa
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5 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
*299 |
806 |
201.50 |
2 |
0 |
| West Indies
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5 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
223 |
447 |
74.50 |
4 |
0 |
| Overall |
52 |
80 |
10 |
13 |
29 |
334 |
6996 |
99.94 |
32 |
0 |
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Bradman's batting average exceeded 100 on five grounds.
Analysis by Ground
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His batting average exceeded 100 in 7 of the 13 Calendar years in which he played
Analysis by Year
and exceeded 100 in 4 of the 11 series in which he played.
Analysis by Series
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His batting statistics, averge 103.63, at No 3 in the batting order, undoubtedly make
him the best ever in that position. Analysis by Batting Position
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He scored 29 centuries from 80 innings, (36.25%) The next highest was 25.00%
Highest Hundreds per Innnings Percentage.
His tally of 29 centuries, is exceeded only by that of S M Gavaskar who has 34
Most Hundreds.
He scored 12 double centuries. The next highest is 7
Most Double Hundreds.
He is the only player to score 2 triple centuries. (334 & 304) and was only 1 run
from making it 3 (299* v SAF )
Most Triple Hundreds.
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On 3 occasions he scored 4 centuries in a series. 1930 v England, 1931-32 v South Africa, and
1947-48 v India. He scored centuries in 6 consecutive matches from 01/01/1937, and scored
centuries in 4 consecutive matches on 2 other occasions
Hundreds in Consecutive Matches.
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He has scored the most double centuries in a series. 3 against England in 1930
Most Double Centuries in Series.
He scored a century in each innings (132 & 127 not out) against India at the MCG in 1948
Hundred in Both Innings
and scored a century and a duck in the same match on 2 occasions
Hundred and Duck in Same Match.
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Sir Donald holds the record for the highest score for a player batting at number 5 in the
batting order (304) as well as the record for the highest score for a player batting at
number 7 in the batting order (270)
Highest Innings for Each Batting Position.
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He holds the record for the most runs scored in a 5 Test series (947 v England in 1930)
Highest Series Aggregates.
He holds the record for the highest Test inning against South Africa (299 n.o. Adelaide
Oval in 1932). He has 5 scores exceeding 250 runs
Highest Individual Innings.
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He holds the record for the highest Test innings at 4 Grounds.
299 not out Adelaide Oval
223 Exhibition Ground
226 Brisbane Cricket Ground
334 Headingley
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He scored the fastest 200 in Test Cricket, 214 minutes at Headingley in 1934
and has scored the most runs in a day, 309 at Headingley in 1930. He scored a
century in a session on 6 occasions.
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He holds 2 World Test wicket Partnerships Records:
405 5th wicket with S G Barnes v England at Sydney 1946-47
346 6th wicket with J H Fingleton v England at Melbourne 1936-37
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In additional to the 2 World Test records above he holds 2 Australian
Test wicket Partnership Records:
451 2nd wicket with W H Ponsford v England at The Oval 1934
388 4th wicket with W H Ponsford v England at Headingley 1934
See Partnership Records.
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Sir Donald captained Australia 24 times. His team won 15, lost 3, and drew 6.
His win percentage of 62.5% was exceeded only recently by S R Waugh (also of
Australia).
Captaincy Records.
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In addition to his feats on the field, Sir Donald was a highly respected administrator
and was tireless in his efforts in promoting cricket around the world.
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Have your say about Sir Donald in the HowSTAT Forum.
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The Bradman Collection (State Library of South Australia)
"It is strange, but I think true, that all the time, day and night, somewhere in the world
somebody is talking about Bradman." (Jack Ingham - English Sportswriter)
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