Bradman Honourees

2006 Bradman Foundation Honouree
Norman Clifford O’Neil, b.1937 d.2008

Powerfully built and athletic, right-handed batsman Norm O’Neill burst onto the scene during the 1957-58 Sheffield Shield. In that season he was celebrated by the media as ‘the new Don Bradman’, when he scored 233 against Victoria in 244 minutes. At the conclusion of that summer end he’d tallied 1,005 runs at 83.75, becoming only the third Australian, after Bradman and Bill Ponsford, to top a thousand runs within a season in the Sheffield Shield.

O’Neill played Test cricket from 1958-59 until 1964-65 against England, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa and India. In the 1960-61 Tied Test he scored 181 runs while during the 1961 tour of England he amassed the huge aggregate of 1,981 runs at an average of 60.03 which included 7 centuries.

2007 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
Robert Neil Harvey, b.1928

A left-hand batsman from Victoria, Harvey was just 19 when selected to first play for Australia against India in 1947-48. Precociously talented, he scored centuries in his first grade match, his first first-class game (for Victoria), his second Test appearance and his first Test appearance in England. He is still the youngest Australian to have scored a Test Century at 19 years 121 days (153 v India 1947-48).

He became a hero during the 1948 ‘Invincibles’ Tour when he came to the wicket to join Keith Miller at No. 5 with Australia at 3/68 chasing England’s first innings total of 496. In an innings of 112 runs, which Don Bradman described as ‘one of the greatest innings any batsman, old or young, has ever played’, he helped claw back victory from the jaws of defeat.

Neil Harvey played Test cricket until 1962-63 and aggregated more Test runs at the time than all previous Australian players except Sir Donald Bradman.

2007 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
Samuel John Everett Loxton, b.1921

An effervescent and gregarious man, Sam Loxton is one of only very few cricketers who scored a double-century on debut in first class cricket – 232* for Victoria v Queensland, 1946-47. As a highly capable all-rounder his aggressive batting complemented his fast-medium bowling.

He was a tremendous outfielder with a very strong throwing arm. Loxton played in four Test series; 1947-48 v India, 1948 v England, 1949-50 v South Africa and 1950-51 v England. During the 1948 Invincibles series he played in three Tests scoring 93 runs at Headingley while his sole Test century was made against South Africa at Ellis Park.

Sir Donald Bradman described him as a wonderful ‘utility’ player, strong in all areas of the game and a great asset for team morale.

2008 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
William Alfred Brown, b.1912 d.2008

Although born in Queensland, Brown broke into first-class cricket playing for N.S.W., his family having moved to Sydney when he was three.  He was selected in the 1934 touring side to England where he made five centuries, including a memorable 105 in his England Test debut at Lord’s. He toured South Africa in 1935-36 and returned to England in 1938 when he was second only to Don Bradman in the tour averages.

After the Second World War he played against India in 1947-48 and was memorably run out for 99 in one of the games. During the 1948 ‘Invincibles’ tour of England he played three innings in two of the five Tests. Retiring from cricket at the age of 37, Bill Brown became a Test selector in 1952/53.

Widely respected and admired, Brown was a mentor and supporter of many young Australian & Queensland players freely giving his advice, experience and numerous humorous stories.

2008 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
Arthur Robert Morris, b.1922

A likeable and gregarious personality, Arthur Morris was regarded by Don Bradman as the finest of all left-handed opening batsmen.

Possessing a relaxed and correct technique that enabled him to adapt to varying conditions, Morris broke into the New South Wales season in 1940-41 in sensational fashion scoring 141 and 111. In 1946-47 he was selected for the Test series against England and made 155 in the 3rd Test and a century in each innings of the 4th Test. At tour’s end his average of 71.86 was second only to Bradman.

As a key member of the ‘Invincibles’ he excelled in the English conditions scoring 696 runs and topping the tour averages with 87.00. He played an absolutely crucial innings of 196 runs (the highest in Tests of the tour) during the 5th Test.

Morris continued to thrill crowds with his batting well after the 1948 tour retiring in 1955.

2009 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
Alan Davidson, b.1929

I shall always remember the glorious fluency and rhythm of his perfect bowling action, …the deceptive power of his driving especially over mid-off, and the incredible ability to pluck the ball out of the air when to lesser mortals it seemed already past him. – Sir Donald Bradman

Possessing great stamina and a determination to match, Alan Davidson regularly turned the game in favour of New South Wales and Australia with ball, bat and in the field. A true world-class all-rounder he could move the ball in both directions and was unnervingly accurate with his left-arm over the wicket fast-medium deliveries. No batsman in the world during his Test years could claim to play him with any confidence.

His batting was adaptable and he could hit out aggressively or protect his wicket as conditions demanded. And they frequently did. Batting with Graham McKenzie in the crucial Old Trafford Test during the 1961 series the pair scored 98 in a dogged last wicket stand to position Australia for an unlikely win that eventually secured the series. Conversly, in the 1960-61 Tied Test Davidson attacked the West Indian pace attack with impunity very nearly securing victory with his innings of 80 runs.

In the field Davidson moved like a panther taking sublime catches that earned him the nick-name ‘The Claw’ or throwing down the stumps to secure improbable run-outs.

Once retired from matchplay Alan has dedicated himself to supporting his beloved SCG and was an instrumental figure in the establishment of the Bradman Museum.

2009 Bradman Foundation Joint Honouree
Dennis Lillee, b.1949

Bursting onto the international scene in the final two Tests of the 1970-71 Australia – England series, Lillee’s extreme pace and eight wickets announced a significant talent. He cemented his spot in the Australian side the next summer against the Rest of the World XI that saw him take 8-29 on his home ground at the WACA.

In his early years Lillee’s approach to fast bowling was simple. Bowl as quickly as you can to unsettle the batsman and ensure you can sustain the attack through strength and fitness. His relentless training regimen quickly earned the respect of his colleagues. However, repeated bowling generated painful stress-fractures in his back and he broke-down during the 1972-73 tour to the West Indies.

Returning for the 1974-75 series against England, Lillee, together with fast bowling partner Jeff Thomson, literally terrorized the England batsmen with a barrage of accurate and intimidating fast bowling. Utilizing his natural athleticism, endless stamina, renowned competitiveness, and his unique ability to extract life from ‘dead tracks’, he established himself as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time over the next few seasons.

He defected to World Series Cricket along with many key Australian and overseas players – a decision that vastly improved the appeal of this form of the game and eventually helped secure its success.

Once the feud between WSC and the ACB was mended in 1979, Dennis Lillee remained spearheading the Australian attack, his bowling maturing into flawless control reinforced by his strong mental approach that regularly secured him the wickets of the world’s top batsmen.

He retired in 1984 and has committed himself to coaching young fast bowlers particularly in India.

He is currently the President of the Western Australian Cricket Association.

2010 Bradman Foundation Honouree
Sunil Gavaskar, b.1949

Sunil (Sunny) Gavaskar is regarded as one of the best opening batsmen in cricket’s history. The Indian player’s intentions were announced in his debut Test in the West Indies when, aged 21, he scored 774 runs to help India win for the first time in the Caribbean in the 1970/71 Series.

For the next sixteen years Gavaskar was instrumental in developing his country’s dream of becoming a great cricketing nation. At only 165cm, the batsman is regarded as one of the most technically sound of his generation, and his infinite patience made him a formidable foe in Test matches. Equally proficient off front and back foot he was always beautifully balanced and boasted impregnable defence.

Gavaskar set many world records during his career, notably breaking Sir Donald’s record of 29 Test centuries. His mark of 34 test centuries stood for almost two decades before it was broken by his protégé Sachin Tendulkar. He also realised his ambition to score 10,000 Test runs.

“My view is that Sunny Gavaskar is the greatest batsman I have come across,” said Garry Sobers. “He has opened the innings against genuine fast bowlers like Michael Holding, Roberts, Croft and Garner. He has made more runs away from India – in the West Indies, Australia and England.”

After retiring in 1987, Gavaskar remained involved in cricket as a television commentator, analyst and columnist. He has also had responsibilities with the BCCI and served as Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.

Gavaskar is credited for teaching his teammates and their successors the virtue of unconditional professionalism, and he earned widespread respect for his courage and determination against hostile bowling. These qualities fit perfectly with the criteria for being a 2010 Bradman Honouree.

2010 Bradman Foundation Honouree
Adam Gilchrist, b.1971

Adam Gilchrist was the first player to master all three codes of cricket: Tests, ODI and Twenty20.

After entering international cricket in 1995, Gilchrist won fans with a combination of his exhilarating hitting and cheerful demeanor. He operated with a philosophy of ‘just hit the ball’, and confirmed his Test selection in 1999 with a debut game featuring 81 runs, 5 catches and a stumping. Later in that Test, he partnered with Justin Langer in Hobart to score 149 not out and 127 respectively to steal the Test from Pakistan.

One other display of strength came in the 2007 World Cup against Sri Lanka where he scored 149 off 104 balls: 13 fours and 8 sixes. Batting coach Bob Meuleman had advised him to put a squash ball in his glove to force him to hit straighter.

Perhaps the most memorable moment of his career was when he ‘walked’ before an umpire’s decision in a World Cup semi-final in 2003. “..as a player I had the ability to make the game, in a tiny little way, better when I left it than when I found it,” he explained.

Over his career Gilchrist has played Tests in every nation and has a batting average of at least 40 against every country except India (27.90). As a wicket-keeper, his 17 centuries and 5,570 Test runs are world records.

Gilchrist never placed personal success over that of his team. He is remembered not just for extraordinary run-making and safe wicket-keeping, but also for reminding all cricket followers that the integrity of the game is paramount. And that is what makes him a 2010 Bradman Honouree.

2011 Bradman Foundation Honouree
Sir Richard Hadlee, b.1951

‘I had four key words that went through my mind when I was bowling, one was rhythm, the other was off stump, the other one was desire and the other one Lillee.’

Richard Hadlee is New Zealand’s greatest player and one of the world’s best all-rounders of any era.

As an opening bowler, his clinical ‘stump to stump line, high flowing action, superb follow through, and unwavering concentration defined his play . In contrast, his batting depended not on a carefully developed technique, but on a brilliant eye and natural timing. He swung the bat generously and regularly chanced aerial shots. Such was his power, that aerial hits always represented a reasonable risk.

One of five sons of former New Zealand Test captain Walter Hadlee, he first played for Canterbury in 1971-2 and toured England in 1973. In 1978 he’d become the acknowledged spearhead of the New Zealand attack and his hostile bowling in Wellington that summer did most to bring New Zealand to an inaugural victory over England. ‘Paddles’, Hadlee took 10 for 100 in the match and with 6 for 26 bowled England out for 64 in the second innings. In 1978 he joined Nottinghamshire, taking 36 wickets in six Championship matches at 14.47 runs per wicket. Together with South African fast bowler Clive Rice he was the primary reason for Notts winning the Championship after a 52-year wait. In 1984 he became the first player since Fred Titmus in 1967 to secure the 1000 run/100 wicket double in an English season.

In 1985/86 Hadlee developed from a very good fast bowler into a truly great one. An outstanding all-round performance against Australia, saw him take 9/52 in Australia’s first innings. A batting effort of 54 combined with 6 more wickets in the second innings, helped New Zealand to a crushing victory. He followed this up with 7 wickets in the second Test and 11 wickets in the third thereby giving his country its first series win on Australian soil. In a home series against India in 1989/90, Hadlee became the first bowler in history to take 400 Test wickets.

Before he retired from cricket in 1990 Richard Hadlee was Knighted for his services to the game becoming New Zealand’s first and only cricketing Knight.

2011 Bradman Foundation Honouree
Bob Simpson, b.1936

‘I must say I got greater enjoyment out of coaching than playing. I took huge satisfaction helping players to become a truly good player… the reward of watching their game and seeing things you worked on coming down right and saving people’s careers was immense’.

Bob Simpson holds a unique place in Australian cricket succeeding as a player, captain, selector, coach and manager over a career spanning five decades.

Simpson is one of only 21 players in the history of cricket to have scored a triple Test century. He is also one of the finest slip fieldsmen of all time and has taken 71 Test wickets with his probing leg-spin deliveries. He’s risen to the challenge of restoring pride to Australian cricket not once, but twice separately as a captain and also as national coach.

As a sturdily built right-hand bat Simpson made his first class debut in 1952-3 when only 16. Brilliant footwork and lightening fast reflexes delivered through emphatic square cuts and forceful front-foot drives that occasionally delivered very big scores in the Sheffield Shield competition, first for his native New South Wales and later Western Australia.

His arrival at Test level was more restrained however and while he made his debut against South Africa in 1957-58, his first Test century wasn’t until the England tour of 1964. But what a century! At Old Trafford the Australian skipper hit a stupendous 311, over thirteen hours in duration, an amazing feat of endurance and concentration that prevented victory by England and kept Australia’s chances in the series alive.

An uncompromising captain Bob Simpson led Australia in 29 Tests between 1963-64 and 1967-68. Ten years later, when World Series Cricket took the finest Australian players away from the official game Simpson was still enjoying Grade cricket but was asked to again lead his country to give the inexperienced team some resilience and direction. Initially a difficult time, ‘Simmo’ doggedly built the team into a competitive force until eventually retiring after 10 Tests.

That wasn’t however his departure from Test cricket. In 1986, together with captain Allan Border, the pair formed one of Australian cricket’s finest partnerships and under their guidance moulded the unit through rigorous fielding, batting and bowling drills, into the tough, disciplined and professional team that secured the memorable Ashes victory in England in 1989.

Bob Simpson, truly a cricketer for all seasons.