Bradman Facts

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The Bradmans remained devoted to each other for their entire 65 year marriage. 

As a child Jessie Menzies lived on her parents' property outside of Bowral. When she was eleven, her family arranged for her to live with the Bradmans so that she could attend school. It is said that love blossomed very early and the childhood sweet-hearts later married on April 30th, 1932. Huge crowds gathered outside St. Paul's Church in Burwood to get a glimpse of the bride and groom.
Although their devotion to each other was boundless, their 65 years of marriage was not to be without tragedy. In 1936, their first child, a son, lived only a day. 

Three years later, the Bradmans had another son, John. As a child, he faced life threatening polio and their daughter, Shirley, born in 1941, had cerebral palsy.
Lady Bradman always remained a tower of support for her husband. She supported him in his cricket career, often helping to prepare speeches or newspaper articles for him. In business, she operated as a part-time book-keeper and secretary in the stock-broking firm. When Lady Bradman died in 1997, Sir Donald was heart-broken. Close friends say he never recovered from her death.

In 1934, Bradman was appointed vice-captain of the Australian team for the tour of England. It was near the end of that tour that Bradman contracted acute appendicitis. He was so gravely ill that newspapers even prepared obituaries in advance. His wife, Jessie, was given a free trip to England courtesy of the P & O Line. She arrived 31 days later to find her husband very weak but slowly recuperating.

As a result of this illness, Bradman missed the 1935-36 tour to South Africa. During his absence from cricket, Bradman took up squash to keep himself fit. He subsequently won the South Australian squash Championship. Events such as this highlight the greatness of Bradman's sheer athleticism. 

Poor health would hinder Bradman throughout much of his life. Bradman suffered from a series of debilitating illnesses including complete exhaustion during the Bodyline series and a recurring problem with fibrositis which eventually caused his discharge from the army in 1941. 

The Bradman cover drive

In 1938, Bradman toured England for the first time as skipper. Bradman would go on to captain Australia in 24 Tests for 15 wins and only 3 losses. Bradman was never to lose a Test Series while he was captain. On the 1938 tour, Bradman averaged 115.6.

At left: One of Bradman's greatest strengths was his ability to pick up the length of the ball very early in its flight. Combine this with his superb footwork work and you have a master of the square cut.

Worcester Cricket Ground with Don Bradman at the crease and Worcester Cathedral in the background, 1938.

Bradman's feats in cricket are nothing short of incredible. One could only imagine what his accomplishments would have been had it not been for World War Two. Deprived of Test cricket for eight years, 1938-46, Bradman was talked into returning to cricket. According to his own account, Bradman agreed to play Test cricket again to help get the game back on its feet after World War Two. Although some of his brilliance of the 1930s had gone, he was still a cut above the rest, and then some! He still managed centuries at about the same rate as the pre-war years.

On his last tour of England as a player in 1948, Bradman led the Australian side who were to become known as "The Invincibles." 

Right: 11 June 1948 Don Bradman bats as Godfrey Evans (wicketkeeper) and Bill Edrich field for England during the first Ashes Test Match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England. Australia won the Test by 8 wickets.