On this day 2001: Cricket lost its biggest legend as Don Bradman passed away

On this day in 2001, cricket said goodbye to the greatest batsman it has ever known. Sir Don Bradman passed away at the age of 92 in Adelaide, leaving behind a legacy that still feels untouchable.

There are great players in every generation. Then there is Bradman. His Test average of 99.94 is the most famous number in cricket. It has been repeated so often that it almost sounds fictional. In a format where averaging 50 marks players out as elite, Bradman nearly doubled that. Decades have passed, the game has evolved, rules have changed, bats have improved, but that number remains out of reach.

Bradman’s rise came at a time when Australia needed something to believe in. During the Great Depression, his mountain of runs gave people reason to smile. Every century felt personal to his supporters. He dominated England in The Ashes with pride, confidence and identity like none other.

His career was not without challenges. The 1932-33 Bodyline series remains one of the most controversial chapters in the sport’s history. England devised tactics specifically to restrict him. Even then, Bradman averaged 56.57 in that series. For most, that would be a career highlight. For Bradman, it was a slowdown.

What made Bradman special was not only the volume of runs but the speed at which he scored them. Bowlers often spoke about the mental toll of watching him take control of a game within a single session. Once he settled, matches slipped away quickly.

There is also something poetic about the way his career ended. In his final Test innings at The Oval in 1948, he needed just four runs to finish with a perfect average of 100. He was bowled for a duck. The fairytale number escaped him. In a strange way, that moment made him more human.

Bradman was knighted for his services to cricket and remained a respected voice in the game long after retirement. Yet, for all the honours, it is the image of him at the crease that endures.

“Sir Donald George Bradman was, without any question, the greatest phenomenon in the history of cricket, indeed in the history of all ball games,” Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack described him.

 Cricket has produced many legends since. None have replaced him.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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