Sir Donald Bradman is unarguably Australia’s best cricketer of all time. Averaging the infamous 99.94 in Test cricket and a mere 95.14 in first class, The Don’s combined 146 centuries speak for themselves.
It’s widely known that Bradman would occasionally role the arm over, having taken 36 wickets for New South Wales and South Australia and a further two for Australia, with his wrist-spin. When it comes to Bradman, Australia knows it stuff!
Between the golf ball and the wooden stump to getting out for a duck in his last innings, the anecdotes are endless.
However, there is one Sir Don tale that hasn’t received the attention it deserves: the time that Don Bradman got a stumping when playing for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield.
In January 1938, The Don geared up to captain his side against his former team of New South Wales.
The scene was set for Bradman to return to the SCG, as over 20,000 flocked to the stands for day 1.
This New South Wales XI featured Australian internationals Jack Fingleton, Bill O’Reilly, Bert Oldfield, Sid Barnes, Arthur Chipperfield, and captain Stan McCabe, so Bradman’s South Australia had their work cut out for them.
South Australia batted first and, despite a 44 from Bradman and a 49 from Ron Hammence, they were bowled out quite cheaply for 187. During this innings, South Australian wicketkeeper, Charlie Walker, was run out for naught and, by South Australia’s second innings, he was listed as ‘absent hurt’ with an injured finger.
Although when and how the injury occurred has not been recorded, in New South Wales’ first innings, ten lines down on the scorecard it reads, ‘Bill O’Reilly – stumped †Bradman, bowled Ward’. The wicketkeeper icon (†) next to Bradman’s name confirming further that this wasn’t a 1930s typo but instead a recorded fact.
Despite being teammates on the national team for quite some time, Bradman and O’Reilly had a bitter relationship, with O’Reilly later revealing that he was silent on the topic because, “You don’t piss on statues”.
Although they both talked highly of one-another’s cricketing ability (most of the time), the negative relationship off the field has been believed to have originally stemmed from their different religious beliefs. This feud made Bradman’s stumping of O’Reilly even more noteworthy.
In New South Wales’ second innings, Bradman took three catches from behind the stumps once again.
It’s been recorded that Bradman kept for the entirety of both innings, meaning that he let through seven less byes for the match than experienced Australian-international keeper Bert Oldfield did for New South Wales.
Wisden even went as far as describing Bradman’s keeping performance in the second innings as, “First rate wicket-keeping”.
Bradman went on to score 104 not out in South Australia’s second innings, paired up with Jack Badcock’s 132, but it wasn’t enough as New South Wales won the match by four wickets.
New South Wales would then go on to win that year’s Sheffield Shield, which at the time still featured only four states and eight-ball overs.
No doubt there are hundreds of more hidden gems only one ‘Bradman’ Google search away.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
That's what I mean - I'd get so many wickets if I could bowl to myself batting.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
Considering i nicked off every single time I faced out swing bowling this year, which is what I bowl, I'd rather not. The others, though, the pies...well...
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Goodness, while I never scaled any sort of heights as a cricketer, I would love to bowl to my batting self every single ball.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Thanks Dave that's a really interesting read.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Interesting article here your Holiness about the Don and Catholicism. One author saw no whiff of it in Don’s letters, and points to understandable suspicion of the dawn on the part of O’Reilly, Fingleton and McCabe as Catholics, given Bradman was a Freemason and the cricket establishment was pretty exclusively Protestant - claims NSW Cricket Association didn’t employ a Catholic until 1979, which sounds really surprising. Apparently Lindsay Hassett wasn’t regarded quite the same way by the establishment because he went to Geelong College which was a Presbyterian school. https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/letters-reveal-the-real-don-20041030-gdywb1.html
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
I believe the Don's true regret about his cricket career came out of the mouth of the man himself ' ...I truly regret I never had the opportunity to face my own bowling"
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
He hated Ian Chappell, for example. Ian understood that in the 70s the game was changing and wanted the administration to recognise and adapt. Some of the board agreed but one man was opposed. Any guesses? Without Bradman, WSC would not have happened.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
He got on well with Lindsay Hassett, another of Irish/Catholic, and future captain. Although this was post WWII. Hassett was at the other end when Braddles appeared obviously caught at second slip. When asked if he thought Bradman was out, Hassett replied with a breezy nah. Although you might say that if you were looking to establish yourself in the team post war. I do like the English correspondent's view; At the end of the day, Harold Dale in the Daily Express dryly observed Bradman played two innings on the first day, the "first ended when he had scored 28".
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Not Michael Clarke?
matth
Roar Guru
And dinner companion? I'd take Keith Miller
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
My mother's father was born 1907, Fogarty in Clifton (between Warwick and Toowoomba) - can't get more Irish than those names ... :stoked: So while not old enough for first war, still young enough for 2nd, but a few factors may have come into it, mainly the farm factor you mentioned. Also, Ireland was now a free country since nearly 20 years so the anti British sentiment may have gradually reduced somewhat.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
He'd like me then - no way I'd be a threat to his place in the side.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Bradman could be very charming when he wanted to be. It depended on whether he saw you as a threat.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Hi matth. Among those who saw both at their peak: Mailey, Carter, Ryder, Hendry, Noble, Armstrong, Collins, Darling They all favour Trumper The first two actually toured with Vic and Don, and Mailey, who bowled to both, must have the greatest insights of all. Macartney, Noble and Carter thought the comparison wasn't even close. Allowing for bias and personality factor, you could say the two champions are close. Trumper was superior in his domain: Adversity, damaged wickets, touring England Don was ahead in his: Volume, consistency, endurance
matth
Roar Guru
Room service :happy:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
I wonder who most people would choose to have dinner with if the only two choices were Bradman or Warne ...
matth
Roar Guru
Two points. 1. What do the players who played with Bradman at his peak say, vs those who played with Trumper at his peak? Is there some nostalgia there? 2. Is there a personality factor. Let’s face it, we all know who we’d rather have over for dinner :stoked:
Craig
Guest
"When it comes to Bradman, Australia knows it stuff!" Yep, Australia does. Its just the author who doesn't !
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Or It's unanimous among people who have no idea what they are talking about! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Jeff, It is incredibly arrogant for people today to look back on the opinions of Herbie Collins, Warwick Armstrong, Monty Noble etc. and say (in effect): 'I know better than you.' It is hubris and it's laughable. But as you said, the last generation gets to write (or rewrite) history. And after that, the sheep just follow.