A series of intimate photos have emerged offering a behind the scenes look into the life of Sir Donald Bradman.
The 65 photo collection of original and largely unseen black and white photos of the late cricketing great will go under the hammer at the Sir Donald Bradman — The Legend auction next Monday.
The collection has belonged to one single owner up until now.
Some expected to fetch between $200 and $400 while others are expected to be sold for up to $1000.
The photos offer a fascinating insight into the life and times of one of Australia’s best and most loved sporting icons.
One shows a shirtless Bradman in a wrestling match with an unknown opponent while others show he and wife Jessie over the course of their 65-year marriage.
Don Bradman (pictured right) was all business when it came to cricket – off the field he liked to let his hair down
Widely regarded as Australia’s greatest ever athlete, Bradman made his Test debut in 1928 against England on November 30 amid much fanfare.
Exactly two decades later he wore his coveted baggy green for the last time, also versus the old enemy. It officially closed the curtain on a glittering cricket career unlikely to ever matched when it comes to statistics.
Bradman finished with a batting average of 99.94, and before his last innings, his average was a staggering 101.39.
Australian cricketer Don Bradman with his wife Jessie (pictured left) in Berkshire, England back in 1938
Don Bradman (pictured above) on his wedding day in 1932 at St Paul’s Church in Burwood, NSW
Don Bradman (pictured above) is regarded as the best batsman the cricket world has ever seen
The scene was set at The Oval in London, with Bradman requiring just four runs to reach 7000 Test runs across 70 innings.
It would have seen Bradman retire with perfect average of 100 in his Test career, but sometimes fate intervenes.
Enter Eric Hollies, 19, a rising English leg-spin bowler at the time.
Much to the amazement of the crowd and around the world, the unheralded Hollies took just two balls to dismiss Australia’s best ever sportsman for a duck in his swansong appearance in his whites.
So much for sentiment. It also ensured Hollies would forever be part of cricket and sporting history due to the circumstances surrounding his prized wicket.
Bradman’s batting partner on the day, Arthur Morris, watched the historic moment unfold from 22 yards away.
He ‘could’t believe’ what transpired, but recently stated Bradman took the dismissal in his stride.
The baggy green (pictured above) worn by Don Bradman when he represented Australia from 1928-1948
Bradman’s appetite for runs and his relentless desire to be the best saw him dominate world cricket
After retiring, Don Bradman (pictured above middle) moved into cricket administration
Sir Don Bradman (pictured left) was utterly devoted to his wife Jessie from the moment they married
‘Don was most disappointed. But he took it on the chin. I’m sorry that he didn’t have a hundred (100) average, because nobody will ever do it,’ he told the ABC.
‘These guys today like [Steve] Smith, they call him another Bradman. But really, they are like the rest of us, mate, they are only half as good as he (Bradman) was. Simple as that.’
After retiring, Bradman was knighted for his services to the sport, before he forged a respected career in administration with the Australian Cricket Board.
He stepped aside in 1980 to live a reclusive life with his wife, before passing away in February of 2001, aged 92.
You can view the photo collection at artvisory.com.au.
Don Bradman (pictured left) with retired Australian greats turned commentators Richie Benaud and Bill Lawry
Bradman’s enthusiasm for the sport (pictured above) didn’t diminish as he enjoyed retirement
Bradman’s batting exploits saw him quickly become a legendary figure in the game across the world
In his later years, Bradman (pictured right) revealed his favourite modern day players were Shane Warne and India’s Sachin Tendulkar
Source link