Remembering Don Bradman: 'He was distinct from anyone else'

Today was the 100th anniversary of the birth of Don Bradman, undoubtedly the greatest batsman who ever lived and arguably the world’s greatest sportsman.

In a BBC interview, England fast bowler Sir Alec Bedser – who took Bradman’s final Test wicket in 1948 – has been sharing memories of a very private man with whom he became great friends.

“Bradman was distinct from anyone else,” he says. “His concentration was the great thing with him, I suppose, and hard work. He had the will to do it, and of course he was a fine player.

“He used his feet and despatched the bad ball, for four usually, on the ground, not in the air. He wouldn’t have been caught out at deep square leg, I’ll tell you that much.”

His Australian team-mate Neil Harvey had also been remembering his former captain and his unmatched scoring ability: “He was quick to pick up the ball, had fantastic footwork that got him in a position and wasn’t afraid to hit across the ball. Remember, then our bats only weighed 2lb 2oz. If he used the ones they have these days he wouldn’t have averaged 99.94. He’d have averaged 199.94.”

Meanwhile Australia’s present captain Ricky Ponting has been talking about how the current generation of players can only look back on his career with awe: “It’s almost like he’s separate from the game. His name and what he achieved, it’s so far out of any player’s reach, in his time or any player who has played since, it’s almost like he played a different game to what we’re playing.

“He would have been the stand-out player whatever generation he played in.”