On Bradman's 100th Birthday, Ponting Vows To Continue The Don's Legendary Legacy

Sydney Morning Herald

Thursday August 28, 2008

Chloe Saltau and AAP

ON THE centenary of Sir Donald Bradman's birth, Australian captain Ricky Ponting vowed to emulate the great cricketer by "leaving the game in better shape" for future generations.

At a gala dinner in Sydney, attended by former Test greats and former prime minister John Howard and compered by film star and cricket lover Hugh Jackman, Ponting delivered the annual Bradman oration. It was one of a series of functions from Melbourne to Mumbai to celebrate what would have been Sir Donald's 100th birthday.

Ponting re-created his own journey from the backstreets of Launceston to the Australian captaincy. "In my opinion, Donald Bradman was Woods and Nicklaus combined, and more. He's Spitz and Phelps, and more. As far as I'm concerned, he's simply the greatest sportsman the world has ever seen," he said.

"Cricket is Australia's favourite game. I'm honoured to be able to turn my passion for the game into a professional career. I personally look forward to emulating Sir Donald, in leaving the game in better shape for having been a part of it."

Earlier, at a Bradman Centenary function at the MCG, Adam Gilchrist, one of the players The Don loved to watch in his old age, forecast cricket would survive its many modern challenges, including the wealth and power of India and the explosion of Twenty20. Gilchrist did not have the chance to meet Bradman, but Bradman's son John said his father drew immense enjoyment from watching Gilchrist, the entertainer and the gentleman.

"He thought his ability was absolutely second to none, and that his modesty and integrity [were] of the very highest order," John Bradman said after cutting a birthday cake for his father.

In paying tribute to Sir Donald, Gilchrist said Bradman remained one of the most powerful reasons for young Australians to play the game and, therefore, one of the reasons cricket would negotiate the delicate crossroads it faces in the 21st century.

"There is a lot of issues that cricket faces at the moment - not just the Twenty20, not just the IPL," said Gilchrist. "I believe they [India] account for about 80 per cent of world cricket revenue. It's a reasonably strong position to be in, one would think, as a business.

"So how do they, how does the ICC and the cricket world, manage that? Not deal with it, but manage it, because it's real and it's happening and fair play to them. There's immense passion for the game there and a great love for it."

Gilchrist, who will captain Hyderabad in next year's Indian Premier League, expressed faith that Twenty20 would not devour traditional forms of the game - one of the fears expressed as the revolution gains pace.

"Twenty20 cricket - will it ruin Test cricket? I don't think so. I really do think that the basic fundamentals of the game are still the same," Gilchrist said.

"We survived World Series Cricket 30 years ago ... It is a game that does have the ability to mutate, to come in different forms - short, long, energetic. Some may say slow, boring, relaxing - whatever your take is, it does have the ability to evolve and turn itself around."

Bradman's birthday celebrations stretched around the nation, from his birthplace in Cootamundra to Bowral to Sydney and Adelaide, where he lived from the mid-1930s. At the Melbourne and Sydney functions, former Test cricketers, including Invincibles Sam Loxton and Arthur Morris, mingled and re-lived their memories of Bradman.

"It was probably the highlight of my career, to go out on the field with that great man," Harvey said.

In a recorded message from Sachin Tendulkar, in whom Sir Donald saw something of himself, the Indian great said no one would come close to emulating Bradman's achievements.

"It's impossible, I think, in today's world to score 99.94 in every innings," Tendulkar said.

And International Cricket Council president David Morgan paid tribute, saying: "His name is a by-word for brilliance - soccer has Pele, cricket has Bradman."

Meanwhile, the MCG's right to host international cricket is in the balance after talks between the Melbourne Cricket Club and Cricket Victoria over a new agreement broke down. Telstra Dome has offered to host some limited-overs games, and possibly even Test cricket after the MCG's agreement ends in March.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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