"The ghost of a once great cricketer" Don Bradman

bradman , barnes leave field adjournment both head towards 234.

in 1945–46, bradman suffered regular bouts of fibrositis while coming terms increased administrative duties , establishment of business. played south australia in 2 matches re-establishment of first-class cricket , later described batting painstaking . batting against australian services cricket team, bradman scored 112 in less 2 hours, yet dick whitington (playing services) wrote, have seen today ghost of once great cricketer . bradman declined tour of new zealand , spent winter of 1946 wondering whether had played last match. english team due arrive 1946–47 ashes series, media , public anxious know if bradman lead australia. doctor recommended against return game. encouraged wife, bradman agreed play in lead-up fixtures test series. after hitting 2 centuries, bradman made himself available first test @ gabba.

controversy emerged on first day of first test @ brisbane. after compiling uneasy 28 runs, bradman hit ball gully fieldsman, jack ikin. appeal catch denied in umpire s contentious ruling bump ball . @ end of over, england captain wally hammond spoke bradman , criticised him not walking ; on series cricketing war when people desired peace , whitington wrote. bradman regained finest pre-war form in making 187, followed 234 during second test @ sydney (sid barnes scored 234 during innings, many in still standing 405 run 5th wicket partnership bradman. barnes later recalled purposely got out on 234 because wouldn t right make more runs bradman ). australia won both matches innings. jack fingleton speculated had decision @ brisbane gone against him, bradman have retired, such fitness problems. in remainder of series, bradman made 3 half-centuries in 6 innings, unable make century; nevertheless, team won handsomely, 3–0. leading batsman on either side, average of 97.14. 850,000 spectators watched tests, helped lift public spirits after war.