***‘SIR’ Donald Bradman*** is the most overrated cricketer ever.

He is a legend for sure, but

definitely not worth the hype.

1. The **LBW law was not properly implemented until 1937** when it became an MCC law. Prior
to it, the batsmen were not given out even if the ball hits the pads.

2. Bradman played international cricket against 4 nations - England, West Indies, South Africa,
and India. Out of his 52 appearances in tests, he played more than **70% of them against
England**. Playing most of the matches against just one team made him familiar with their
bowling.

3. Bradman had hardly played in **10–12 grounds**(that too only in England and Australia)
throughout his career. He was well aware of the conditions there. Players like Ponting, Tendulkar,
and Sangakkara have played in 10+ countries and 50+ grounds.

4. **Spin bowling was not so dominant in those days**. There was no single quality spinner on the
English side at that time. Who knows what would Bradman’s average be, if he had played in
current spin-friendly tracks of Asia.

5. He averaged **178.75 against India and 201.50 against South Africa**. Both these teams were
amateur and didn’t have enough experience in the international arena. It’s like Steve Smith playing
against minnows like Bermuda or Oman.

6. His average was not exceptional against the English and the Caribbean teams. His average
against **WI is 74.5 and England is 89.78**. If any modern-day legend plays such a high
percentage of matches against just one team, he would definitely have the similar average.
Imagine Kohli playing 70% of his matches against Srilanka (or) Sangakkara playing against
Bangladesh.

7. **The strategists play an important role in today’s game**. The check the batting videos of the
opposition player and devise a plan to get him out. All opposition teams had their plans against
Tendulkar and Ponting, well ahead of the match. There no such facilities during Bradman’s era.

8. Cricket in those days only had **one format**. That too was played rarely. In a career spanning
for 13 years(no cricket for 6 years 1939–45, due to WW2), Bradman played just 52 tests. that’s 4
tests per year. Current generation players play games of all the 3-formats. They take immense
pressure while playing the shorter formats.

9. Whenever the pitch is hard to play, he wouldn't come to bat. He would be given an absent hurt.
That also boosted his average. He didn't bat in both the innings of the 5th test vs England at
London.

*(First Innings)*

*(Second Innings)*

*With such a great strategy and conditions of the game, any good player would have had a similar
average as of Bradman’s.*

**Footnotes:**

1. Don Bradman - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Bradman)

2. 5th Test, Australia tour of England at London, Aug 20-24 1938 | Match Summary | ESPNCricinfo
(http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/17544/scorecard/62652/england-vs-australia-5th-test-
australia-tour-of-england-1938)

3. Leg before wicket - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leg_before_wicket)