The Glebe wicket, where young Don had
first shown his batting prowess, was transformed into Bowral Oval, and later
named Sir Donald Bradman Memorial Oval. It is here at Bowral that the Bradman
Museum stands. Sir Donald and Lady Jessie were present when the first stage of
the museum was inaugurated in October 1989. This section is the pavilion, which
comprises the clubhouse, dressing rooms and conference rooms.
Bradman noted, “In my eyes the Bradman
Museum has been created to honour and strengthen the game of cricket and my
name is merely a catalyst to give it birth and life. The museum complex is
primarily for the youth of Australia. It is a symbol of what cricket has meant
and will continue to mean to the people of our nation and cricket lovers
everywhere. Without doubt the laws of cricket and the conduct of the game are a
great example to the world. We should all be proud of this heritage.”
What Bradman was conveying to those
who play, govern and watch this great game, was to respect it and carry it
forward in its best tradition.
Seated in the dressing room of the
Bradman Oval pavilion is a life-size figure of a batsman with his baggy green
cap and pads on, legs stretched out and face cupped by his hands. It reveals
“the mixed emotions of celebration and devastation, of players sharing those
private moments.”
The museum itself, which is at times
referred to as the Second Innings, opened in 1996. It encompasses three major
display galleries, a special exhibition gallery, a hundred-seat auditorium,
library, tea room and a children’s area. A gift shop sells Bradman memorabilia
including silver pendants, key chains, cups with his autographed portrait, bats
and balls. There is a special section showing the crafting of the bat from the
willow, and the winding of several layers of twine around a cork core, encased
in a red leather shell to form a cricket ball.
The history of cricket is captured in
film footage, photographs and newspaper clippings. One can learn about the
origin of the game, framing of the laws, the earliest reference in 1300 to a
game of ‘Craiget’ played by Prince Edward II, formation of MCC in 1787, the
legendary players, through to the modernisation of the game, night matches and
commercialization.
The Bradman Foundation, which manages
the Bradman Museum, conducts coaching clinics. The residential programmes for
children combine other recreational activities so that the young ones enjoy new
challenges in a relaxed and social setting. The Foundation provides scholarships,
organises exhibitions and conducts matches.
Coinciding with the Sydney Olympics in
the year 2000, an exhibition entitled ‘A Perfect Ten: Sporting Greats of the 20th
Century’ opened at the museum, recording the achievements of ten great sportspersons,
Carl Lewis (athletics), Michael Jordan (basketball), Muhammad Ali (boxing), Don
Bradman (cricket), Jack Nicklaus (golf), Nadia Comaneci (gymnastics), John
Eales (rugby), Pele (soccer), Dawn Fraser (swimming) and Rod Laver (tennis).
To cite just one instance of the work
of the Bradman Foundation, in 1997 the well-known artist Colin Joseph Dudley
made a painting of H.S. Altham’s photograph of Bradman walking out to bat at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the third Test of the 1936-37 Ashes series. It
was entitled ‘Bradman’s Walk to Glory Limited Edition Masterpiece’. Each of the
ninety-nine prints was autographed by The Don and priced at 20,000 Australian
Dollars. The proceeds were shared by the Wheelchair Sports Association and the
Bradman Foundation.
Bradman wrote, “This limited edition
portrait was initiated as a reflection of my very high regard for the
commitment and sporting skills of wheelchair athletes.”
Membership of the Bradman Foundation
is open to everyone around the world for a nominal subscription of Aus $ 25 a
year. Almost till his last days, Sir Donald religiously attended to business
related to the Bradman Foundation, Bradman Museum and Bradman Collection at the
State Library of South Australia.
(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted
on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).
Don’s
Century
Published
in India by Sporting Links
ISBN
978-81-901668-5-0
Fully
illustrated
Paperback
French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
188
pages
