Don Bradman’s ‘Strange’ World XI & Why Comparing Him With Sachin Tendulkar Is Unfair

Is Don Bradman or Sachin Tendulkar the greatest player ever?

It is indeed very difficult to answer this question as I have not seen Sir Bradman’s batting. I believe, there will never be another Don Bradman. He was simply the best batsman and the most outstanding sportsman of all time. He was better at cricket than anybody else has been at any other sport.

Only one man deserved the right to be labelled as the greatest cricketer of all time before Sachin Tendulkar started to dominate attacks around the world. Bradman’s record is undoubtedly great and very few cricketers have even come close to emulating this great man.

He is the greatest but what Sachin has achieved is no less than Bradman. Bradman’s test average of 99.94 (Nine, Nine, Nine, Four!!!) and Tendulkar’s 100 international centuries both seem unlikely to be surpassed in the near future. So, drawing comparisons between the two is not only unfair but also kind of insulting to both. Both are legends of the game and as for picking the best, I will leave that for you to decide.

Here’s what Sir Bradman had to say about Tendulkar:

Now coming to Don Bradman’s ‘strange’ and ‘controversial’ Dream Test Team, there was no place for Viv Richards, Wasim Akram or Sunil Gavaskar. What do you think was on his mind?

As an All-time World XI, his dream team is surprisingly flawed. His side only includes one Englishman, Alec Bedser, and seven Australians. So we can come to the conclusion that his World XI is stuffed with his friends and contemporaries. He only played in England and Australia and Bradman’s opinion reflects his limited horizons. Any all-time World XI is a matter of opinion, so, there is nothing strange in a legend expressing his opinion after playing and watching the game for seven decades.

His Dream XI includes (in batting order with twelfth man):

1. Barry Richards – South Africa
2. Arthur Morris – Australia
3. Don Bradman – Australia
4. Sachin Tendulkar – India
5. Gary Sobers – West Indies
6. Don Tallon – Australia
7. Ray Lindwall – Australia
8. Dennis Lillee – Australia
9. Alec Bedser – England
10. Bill O’Reilly – Australia
11. Clarrie Grimmett – Australia
12. Wally Hammond – England

I believe his opinion deserves better than to be dismissed as ‘controversial’, but in the imaginary context, I worked on an imaginary team. Choosing an all-time balanced Test XI is next to impossible, but still I gave it a try.

My Dream XI:

1. Sunil Gavaskar – India
2. Len Hutton – England
3. Don Bradman – Australia
4. Sachin Tendulkar – India
5. Viv Richards – West Indies
6. Gary Sobers – West Indies
7. Adam Gilchrist – Australia
8. Wasim Akram – Pakistan
9. Shane Warne – Australia
10. Malcolm Marshall – West Indies
11. Glen Mcgrath – Australia

4 Australians, 2 Indians, 3 West Indians, 1 Englishman, 1 Pakistani make up my XI.

What will be your All-Time World Test XI? Make your own dream team and let me know.

Cover Image Source