Early years Don Bradman

bradman s birthplace @ cootamundra museum.

donald george bradman youngest son of george , emily (née whatman) bradman, , born on 27 august 1908 @ cootamundra, new south wales (nsw). had brother, victor, , 3 sisters—islet, lilian , elizabeth may. 1 of great-grandfathers 1 of first italians migrate australia in 1826. bradman s parents lived in hamlet of yeo yeo, near stockinbingal. mother emily gave birth him @ cootamundra home of granny scholz, midwife. house bradman birthplace museum. emily had hailed mittagong in nsw southern highlands, , in 1911, when don bradman two-and-a-half years old, parents decided relocate bowral, close mittagong, closer emily s family , friends, life @ yeo yeo proving difficult.

bradman practised batting incessantly during youth. invented own solo cricket game, using cricket stump bat, , golf ball. water tank, mounted on curved brick stand, stood on paved area behind family home. when hit curved brick facing of stand, ball rebounded @ high speed , varying angles—and bradman attempt hit again. form of practice developed timing , reactions high degree. in more formal cricket, hit first century @ age of 12, undefeated 115 playing bowral public school against mittagong high school.

bush cricketer

in 1920–21, bradman acted scorer local bowral team, captained uncle george whatman. in october 1920, filled in when team 1 man short, scoring 37 not out , 29 not out on debut. during season, bradman s father took him sydney cricket ground (scg) watch fifth ashes test match. on day, bradman formed ambition. shall never satisfied , told father, until play on ground . bradman left school in 1922 , went work local real estate agent encouraged sporting pursuits giving him time off when necessary. gave cricket in favour of tennis 2 years, resumed playing cricket in 1925–26.

bradman in 1928

bradman became regular selection bowral team; several outstanding performances earned him attention of sydney daily press. competing on matting-over-concrete pitches, bowral played other rural towns in berrima district competition. against wingello, team included future test bowler bill o reilly, bradman made 234. in competition final against moss vale, extended on 5 consecutive saturdays, bradman scored 320 not out. during following australian winter (1926), ageing australian team lost ashes in england, , number of test players retired. new south wales cricket association began hunt new talent. mindful of bradman s big scores bowral, association wrote him, requesting attendance @ practice session in sydney. subsequently chosen country week tournaments @ both cricket , tennis, played during separate weeks. boss presented him ultimatum: have 1 week away work, , therefore had choose between 2 sports. chose cricket. bradman s performances during country week resulted in invitation play grade cricket in sydney st george in 1926–27 season. scored 110 on debut, making first century on turf wicket. on 1 january 1927, turned out nsw second team. remainder of season, bradman travelled 130 kilometres (81 mi) bowral sydney every saturday play st george.

first-class debut

the next season continued rapid rise of boy bowral . selected replace unfit archie jackson in nsw team, bradman made first-class debut @ adelaide oval, aged 19. secured achievement of hundred on debut, innings of 118 featuring became trademarks—fast footwork, calm confidence , rapid scoring. in final match of season, made first century @ scg, against sheffield shield champions victoria. despite potential, bradman not chosen australian second team tour new zealand.

bradman decided chances test selection improved moving sydney 1928–29 season, when england tour in defence of ashes. initially, continued working in real estate, later took promotions job sporting goods retailer mick simmons ltd. in first match of sheffield shield season, scored century in each innings against queensland. followed scores of 87 , 132 not out against england touring team, , rewarded selection first test, played @ brisbane.