Editing Don Bradman (section)

===Century of centuries and "The Invincibles"===
{{Main|Don Bradman with the Australian cricket team in England in 1948}}
{{See also|Australian cricket team in England in 1948|1948 Ashes series}}
[[India national cricket team|India]] made its first tour of Australia in the 1947–48 season. On 15 November, Bradman made 172 against them for an Australian XI at [[Sydney Cricket Ground|Sydney]], his 100th [[First-class cricket|first-class]] century.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1947-48/IND_IN_AUS/IND_AUS-XI_14-18NOV1947.html| title = Australian XI v Indians at Sydney| work = Cricinfo| access-date = 15 May 2008| archive-date = 31 October 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231031220052/https://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1940S/1947-48/IND_IN_AUS/IND_AUS-XI_14-18NOV1947.html| url-status = live}}</ref> The first non-Englishman to achieve the milestone, Bradman remains the only Australian to have done so.<ref name="100centuries">{{cite web| url = http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/251072.html| title = First-class matches: Most hundreds in a career| work = Records| publisher = Cricinfo| access-date = 14 May 2008| archive-date = 25 January 2010| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100125151615/http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/content/records/251072.html| url-status = live}} Bradman scored 117&nbsp;centuries. At 14 May 2008, the closest Australians to the 100-century mark are [[Darren Lehmann]] and [[Justin Langer]] with 82. The other non-English players to score 100 centuries{{snd}}[[Viv Richards]], [[Zaheer Abbas]] and [[Glenn Turner]]{{snd}}started their first-class cricket careers after Bradman had retired from all forms of cricket.</ref> In five Tests, he scored 715 runs (at 178.75&nbsp;average). His last double century (201) came at [[Adelaide Oval|Adelaide]], and he scored a century in each innings of the Melbourne Test.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/78297.html|work = Cricinfo|title = Bradman and the Indian connection|access-date = 23 August 2008|archive-date = 12 October 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012213643/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/78297.html|url-status = live}}</ref> On the eve of the Fifth Test, he announced that the match would be his last in Australia, although he would tour England as a farewell.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/bradman/bio-page.htm#14 |title=Biographical essay by Michael Page |work=State Library South Australia |access-date=19 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620035506/http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/bradman/bio-page.htm |archive-date=20 June 2008 }}</ref>

Australia had assembled one of the great teams of cricket history.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/145314.html | work = Cricinfo.com | title = Benaud rates Ponting's team alongside the Invincibles | access-date = 23 August 2008 | archive-date = 12 October 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012213613/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/145314.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Bradman made it known that he wanted to go through the tour unbeaten,<ref name="Teleg"/> a feat never before accomplished.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155254.html|title=Australians in England, 1948|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=29 July 2014|date=30 May 2008|archive-date=31 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231041708/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/155254.html|url-status=live}}</ref> English spectators were drawn to the matches knowing that it would be their last opportunity to see Bradman in action. [[R. C. Robertson-Glasgow|RC Robertson-Glasgow]] observed of Bradman that:<ref name=Robertson/>

{{blockquote|Next to Mr. [[Winston Churchill]], he was the most celebrated man in England during the summer of 1948. His appearances throughout the country were like one continuous farewell matinée. At last his batting showed human fallibility. Often, especially at the start of the innings, he played where the ball wasn't, and spectators rubbed their eyes.}}

Despite his waning powers, Bradman compiled 11 centuries on the tour, amassing 2,428 runs (average&nbsp;89.92).<ref name=Robertson/> His highest score of the tour (187) came against [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]], when Australia compiled a world record of 721 runs in a day. In the Tests, he scored a century at [[Trent Bridge]], but the performance most like his pre-war exploits came in the Fourth Test at Headingley. England [[Declaration and forfeiture|declared]] on the last morning of the game, setting Australia a world record 404 runs to win in only 345&nbsp;minutes on a [[Cricket pitch|heavily worn pitch]]. In [[Innings|partnership]] with [[Arthur Morris]] (182), Bradman reeled off 173 not out and the match was won with 15&nbsp;minutes to spare. The journalist [[Ray Robinson (cricket writer)|Ray Robinson]] called the victory "the 'finest ever' in its conquest of seemingly insuperable odds".<ref>Quoted by Page (1983), p. 312.</ref>

In the final Test at [[The Oval]], Bradman walked out to bat in Australia's first innings. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and three cheers from the opposition.<ref name="Fifth">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152898.html|title=Fifth Test Match: England v Australia 1948|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=25 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825235620/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152898.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His Test batting average stood at 101.39.<ref>{{cite web|last=Parsons|first=Chris|title=On This Day: Donald Bradman makes the 'greatest ever innings'|publisher=Eurosport|url=http://www.eurosport.com/cricket/on-this-day-donald-bradman-makes-the-greatest-ever-innings_sto4711777/story.shtml|access-date=3 June 2017|date=6 January 2014|archive-date=31 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031220051/https://www.eurosport.com/geoblocking.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> Facing the [[Spin bowling|wrist-spin]] of [[Eric Hollies]],<ref>{{cite news|last=Hoult|first=Nick|title='Untouchable' Bradman hits yet another century|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|date=26 August 2008|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/australia/2626962/Untouchable-Bradman-hits-another-century-Cricket.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/australia/2626962/Untouchable-Bradman-hits-another-century-Cricket.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=3 June 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Bradman pushed forward to the second ball that he faced, was deceived by a [[googly]], and was [[bowled]] between bat and pad for a [[Duck (cricket)|duck]].<ref>Baldwin (2005), p. 108.</ref> An England batting collapse resulted in an innings defeat, denying Bradman the opportunity to bat again and so his career average finished at 99.94;<ref name="Fifth"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Australia tour of England, 5th Test: England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 14–18, 1948|work=ESPNcricinfo|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62689.html|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226134712/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/62689.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baldwin109">Baldwin (2005), p. 109.</ref> if he had scored just four runs in his last innings, it would have been 100. A story developed over the years that claimed Bradman missed the ball because of tears in his eyes,<ref name="Baldwin109"/> a claim Bradman denied for the rest of his life.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lynch|first=Steven|title=Memorable ducks|publisher=ESPN|date=17 January 2012|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/cricket/sport/story/131430.html|access-date=15 July 2017|archive-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208122507/http://en.espn.co.uk/cricket/sport/story/131430.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Australian team won the Ashes 4–0, completed the tour unbeaten, and entered history as "[[Australian cricket team in England in 1948|The Invincibles]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/sportinggreats/ |title=Sporting greats&nbsp;– Australia reveres and treasures its sporting heroes |access-date=23 August 2008 |work=Australian Government&nbsp;– Culture and Recreation Portal |quote=The 1948 Australian cricket team captained by Don Bradman, for example, became known as 'The Invincibles' for their unbeaten eight-month tour of England. This team is one of Australia's most cherished sporting legends. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408184025/http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/articles/sportinggreats/ |archive-date=8 April 2011 }}</ref> Just as Bradman's legend grew, rather than diminished, over the years, so too has the reputation of the 1948 team. For Bradman, it was the most personally fulfilling period of his playing days, as the divisiveness of the 1930s had passed. He wrote:<ref>Bradman (1950), p. 152.</ref>

{{blockquote|Knowing the personnel, I was confident that here at last was the great opportunity which I had longed for. A team of cricketers whose respect and loyalty were unquestioned, who would regard me in a fatherly sense and listen to my advice, follow my guidance and not question my handling of affairs...there are no longer any fears that they will query the wisdom of what you do. The result is a sense of freedom to give full reign to your own creative ability and personal judgment.}}

With Bradman now retired from professional cricket, [[R. C. Robertson-Glasgow|RC Robertson-Glasgow]] wrote of the English reaction "...&nbsp;a miracle has been removed from among us. So must ancient Italy have felt when she heard of the death of [[Hannibal]]".<ref name=Robertson>{{cite web | url = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152888.html | work = Wisden | year = 1949 | title = A Miracle Has Been Removed From Among Us | last = Robertson-Glasgow | first = R. C. | access-date = 20 August 2007 | archive-date = 8 December 2012 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20121208212355/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152888.html | url-status = live }}</ref>