May 04, 2001 04:54 PM
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Don Bradman`s fame will remain eternal. He is the Australian cricket knight of the late 40`s. He has scored as many as 117 centuries. He used to be the fastest batsman. His batting style will be forever remembered.
Wisden, cricket's authoritative almanac, last year named Sir Donald as the best cricketer of the 20th century.
In 52 Test matches from 1928 to 1948, he scored 6,996 runs at an average of 99.94.
He played his last innings on August 16, 1948, at London's Oval cricket ground where the entire crowd cheered him as he walked to the crease. England captain Norman Yardley shook his hand and asked the players for three cheers.
He needed only four runs to average 100 but England spinner Eric Hollies bowled Sir Donald out for a duck.
In the aftermath of the famous dismissal ''The Don'' was one of the few to pay credit to the bowler.
''I knew it would be my last test match after a career spanning 20-years, but to suggest I got out as some people did, because I had tears in my eyes is to belittle the bowler and is quite untrue,'' he said.
''Eric Hollies deceived me and deserves full credit.''
