Future stars from the Bradman school

Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 28 Aug 2008: 6.

Abstract

School vice-captain Bryce Clark, 12, said it would be "magical" to play for Australia. "I have always dreamed of being a great cricketer and following in the Don's footsteps," he said. "It is awesome to think we go to the same school."

At the tribute dinner in Sydney last night, [Sam Loxton] reminisced about bowling his first ball to [Don Bradman]. "It hit the square leg fence at lightning speed," Loxton said. "He trotted down the pitch as I followed through to the side and by a strange coincidence our eyes met. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce myself. `That was a pretty good nut,' I said. He replied: `It was a better shot, Sam."'

"Talking about the Olympics, I think he's (Mark) Spitz and (Michael) Phelps and more," the Australian captain said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest sportsman I've ever seen."

Full Text

YET another Don Bradman century was feted yesterday by former team-mates, current champions, cricket fans, political heavyweights, business leaders, and 12-year-old Bowral boy Luther Canute.

As corporate lunches were held at the MCG and the SCG, and a gala dinner was thrown in Sydney to mark the 100th anniversary of Bradman's birth, Luther and his team-mates from Bowral Primary played cricket on the same ground where a young Don hit his first century more than 80 years ago.

"I look up to him when I am playing, not just for cricket but to show that if you persevere, anything can happen," Luther said.

More than 400 guests, including the Don's team-mates from the Invincibles, Neil Harvey and Sam Loxton, and the past fourAustralian Test captains -- Steve Waugh, Mark Taylor, Allan Border and Ricky Ponting -- attended the annual Bradman dinner at Sydney's Westin hotel.

But nowhere were the celebrations more spirited than in Bowral, in the southern highlands of NSW, where the Don spent his school years, met his future wife, Jessie, and, after his death seven years ago, had his ashes spread across the Bradman Oval. "It is great to be celebrating his birthday, to go to the same school and to have played cricket on this oval so many times," Luther said.

"I love cricket. It is amazing to be living in the same place the Don lived."

In the morning, a plaque was unveiled on the old bell post, which Bradman once used as a wicket. Later, more than 500 students gathered on the oval next to the Bradman Museum to form three giant digits: "100".

Also attending the ceremonies was former Australian Test captain Ian Craig. "He (Bradman) was chairman of selectors when I was captain in the 1950s," he said. "We would have many discussions about various players. He was a person who very much knew his own mind. He did not suffer fools gladly."

At the tribute dinner in Sydney last night, Loxton reminisced about bowling his first ball to Bradman. "It hit the square leg fence at lightning speed," Loxton said. "He trotted down the pitch as I followed through to the side and by a strange coincidence our eyes met. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce myself. `That was a pretty good nut,' I said. He replied: `It was a better shot, Sam."'

Ponting described Bradman as the equal of golfing greats Tiger Woods and Jack Nicholas combined "and more".

"Talking about the Olympics, I think he's (Mark) Spitz and (Michael) Phelps and more," the Australian captain said. "As far as I'm concerned, he's the greatest sportsman I've ever seen."

Bradman's son John thanked Ponting for his words.

"This is exactly the sort of thing my dad would have loved to have heard," he said. "It would have resonated with him. He would have been surprised and touched by this if he was alive today."

* Hear tributes to the Don at theaustralian.com.au

Credit: John Stapleton, Angus Hohenboken, Additional reporting: Malcolm Conn

THE JOURNALISM OF JOHN STAPLETON

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Thursday 28 August 2008