Young Bradman

39 School and district years O’Reilly had bowled Alf Stephens for two, and Sid Cupitt for 45; Bradman was 234 not out. For the ABC, Norman May asked Bill O’Reilly what struck him about Bradman as that young batsman: His mobility, the tremendous speed of his feet in getting into the right position. That was immediately noticeable; but, the unusual thing about him in my estimation was the tremendous pugnacity of this little bloke. He got himself immediately into the right position and he was there, chucking his bat at everything that was within reach of him. He was a sight for sore eyes to see a boy like that [by comparison, O’Reilly had just turned 20]; if I saw one like it now, I reckon I could pick him from half a mile away, if my eyes are good enough to look half a mile … I would immediately ring up the state selectors and say, hey, get out there … because he’s another Don Bradman. On hearing that, Bradman replied: It’s rather funny to hear Bill talk about my being a pugnacious player, because Bill himself was the most pugnacious cricketer I ever saw. I don’t think I was. However, we certainly had a good contest that day. I think I had a bit of luck, I was missed off him early. Then it was my turn to get some runs. The next Saturday, at Wingello, O’Reilly bowled Bradman first ball. As for who was the fighting type, we can say that it takes one to know one. As for the 234 being ‘some runs’, Bradman could afford to be modest. Here, as throughout his career, if we try to explain the score away – dropped catches let Bradman off, and even in the first-class game, fielders were not what they have become – we still have to face: why didn’t anyone else bat the same, as often? In April 1926, in the district semi-final at Bundanoon, Bradman made 102 not out of 162 for three, and was out for 120 in Bowral’s 216 for four declared. Bradman recalled in old age: ‘Mum promised me a new bat if I got a century in the final [against Moss Vale], and I got 300, so I told her I wanted three bats. But she wouldn’t play!’ Bradman laughed. Bradman’s 300, a record for the district, came on three Saturday afternoons. Bowral closed on 672 for nine declared. They were not showing mercy; Dick Whatman could not bat because of a broken toe. In the district’s rules, the teams had to play to a finish, so Moss Vale were all out for 134 and 200; the match took an unheard-of five Saturday afternoons. Bradman ended the season with 985 runs for Bowral A in 12 innings (three times not out) for an average of 109.4. He also came second in the bowling averages with 35 wickets at 8.1. Victor Bradman made 107 runs and took 13 wickets. Bradman could not do more to show his talent; but that can only ever be half of the story. The other half is that the right people notice it, and do the right thing about it. Just as in the 1980s we forever had to read about how wonderful Japan’s