Bradman speaks

Hurrah for Will (owner of what Marcus Trescothick calls a "so-called cricket blog" in his autobiography) for dredging up this footage of Don Bradman giving an interview. It is not clear when the video was made - Bradman wears a cap saying 1930 but the discussion suggests it is later in his career, maybe 1938 or even 1948 - but some things are striking.

1) Bradman's voice is quite squeaky. He almost sounds like Dame Edna Everage. Apparently WG Grace also had quite a high-pitched voice. Does squeakiness lead to greatness? Quick, someone produce a PhD on this.

2) As he demonstrates his full range of strokes, Bradman's speed of hand is astounding. It is helped by having a light bat, of course, and Bradman tended to favour one weighing 2lb 3oz, a good 10oz or so lighter than the one Sachin Tendulkar uses. All that practice hitting a golf ball with a stump probably created quite a whippy action, too.

3) His modesty, especially when he claims that he won't beat Jack Hobbs's run-scoring and century-making records because "people don't play as much cricket these days". Given that six years of Bradman's career were lost to war, I wonder how close he would have got. Quick, someone do another PhD.

4) The politeness of the interviewer. "Could you show us a few shots Mr Bradman." Wonderful, let's have more of that deference. Let's get Botham, who loves his Sir Ian trapping, to start talking about Mr Pietersen.

5) And on a similar theme, let's have more TV interviewers wearing hats. Boycott is the only pundit I can think of who ever wears one. Should a Sky executive be reading this blog, I have my own green felt Trilby...

Comments

[RC]

Sachin Tendulkar, somewhere in the great category, too has a voice most definitely in the squeaky category - a husky squeak probably describes it well

[Brian Carpenter]

Thanks, Patrick, very interesting. In terms of the date I'd go for 1938 as he looks about 30. He's certainly older than 22 and younger than 40.