Category Archives: fair play

Sharm de Alwis, in the Island, 12 September 2012

Arunabha Sengupta has opened a can, and I join the feast. Don Bradman has been universally acclaimed as the best batsman who ever lived. Jack Fingleton always added the caveat, “on good wickets.” There had been more enterprising batsmen in the golden era; Ranjit Sinhji and Victor Trumper, come to mind. Of Ranji it was said that the bat was an eastern wand in his hands. Of Trumper, “the very blades of grass bowed in obeisance when he arrived at the crease.” Of Bradman, the celebrated broadcaster Ray Robinson said, “then came Bradman. A single here, a single there, like a millionaire practicing thrift.” Although he grudgingly acknowledged Bradman’s virtuosity, Jack Fingleton always added the caveat “…on good wickets.”

Bradman was an accumulator. Not content with a century, he would sit in a remote corner and plot a double or a triple, whilst his team-mates would have a double scotch. Teetotalers have been known to buy a round of drinks. Even a skin flint like Len Hutton admitted: “I have bought a drink, but not often.”

But Bradman was parsimony personified. He would rather read a book than breast the bar. When Arthur Whitelaw presented Bradman with BP 1,000, For his 334 at Leeds in 1930 (today’s exchange rate is over 200), he didn’t buy his mates a single drink.

Apart from stinginess, Bradman’s problems with team-mates also arose from sectarian issues. As a Mason, he was with Bill Ponsford, Bert Oldfield and a few others, whilst the Catholics, included Jack Fingleton, Bill O’Reilly, Stan McCabe, Leo O’Brien and Fleetwood-Smith. Even though the Don and ‘Tiger’ patted themselves warmly calling each other the best in their respective trade,
O’Reilly said, “Bradman was a chap who never made the slightest effort to be a real hundred percent team man.”

Rancour was fuelled. It is well known that Bradman’s vindictiveness resulted in the premature end of ‘Tiger’s career. Continue reading →