A Lost Tour Resurrected: Richardson & Bradman’s Aussie Tour of America in 1932

thuppahi

11 years ago

Don Bradman’s North American tour opens up on film … ABC News (Australia) …. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ijx14YGtLbE&feature=em-share_video_user…. recovered from some spot in Canada … and introduced and elaborated upon by Mike Sexton, Simon Smith, Don Beard Malcolm Knox and Ian Chappell. The Australian team was captained by Victor Richardson of South Australia and his grand-nephew Ian Chappell adds some insider insights. But perhaps the most informative comments come from Bradman’s close friend Don Beard of Adelaide (himself an institution in the state).

The rising star Don Bradman had only agreed to tour if he could bring his newly married wife Jessie with him. So Jessie had a squad of cricketers with her on their honeymoon!

The group played 51 exhibition matches — one in Hollywood where Boris Karloff (an enthusiastic cricket fan) kept wickets and showed the tourists some film footage. The Tour included a meeting between Babe Ruth and the Don as the respective limelights of baseball and cricket — a celebrity event meant to sell the tour and gain kudos for the American sponsors.

FOOTNOTE ONE: on holiday in Vancouver with my nephew Chris van Twest as my host it was my privilege to be shown round the local cricket ground where Don Bradman displayed his talents.

FOOTNOTE TWO: The runs accumulated by Don Bradman on this tour are NOT part of his statistics –because the matches were/are not viewed as “first class”. The tour was though.

ALSO SEE: Don Bradman meets Babe Ruth — Cricket in America, 1932 …. https://cricketique.live/2015/04/24/don-bradman-meets-babe-ruth-cricket-in-america-1932/

The rising star Don Bradman had only agreed to tour if he could bring his newly married wife Jessie with him. So Jessie had a squad of cricketers with her on their honeymoon!

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