Tribute/Bishen Singh Bedi

'My greatest misfortune is I could not bowl to him'

When I met Sir Don Bradman for the first time in 1967 and shook hands with him I was overawed by his personality. The greatest cricketer the game has ever produced -- I simply could not take my eyes off his face. I could not believe I was shaking hands with the greatest male sportsperson of the century, in the flesh and blood.

The first time I could not even talk to him -- that was my condition. But at subsequent meetings we discussed a lot of things. He told me many things which I cannot reveal to you. Our one-to-one conversations were very fruitful. I realised he was well-informed on almost all subjects. He had enormous suggestions to offer for world cricket, not just Australian cricket. He was one of the finest cricket administrators. My greatest misfortune is I could not bowl to him.

He had seen me in action and wrote a nice piece about me, even traced the history of left arm finger spinners that the game had produced. I am obliged to him for writing some wonderful things about me. I have kept that piece as a prized possession.

Many players would have the same regret of not having played against him or Gary Sobers, who were both great friends. Norman O'Neil, Doug Walters and Greg Chappell -- they all tried to emulate Sir Don, but nobody came anywhere near him. In terms of batting averages, Chappell came a bit close, but not too close to threaten Bradman's statistics.

What do you say about the man whose average is 99.94 in batting? Douglas Jardine invented Bodyline to curb his run spree, but failed miserably. Bradman went on to score runs despite Bodyline bowling.

Once a group of Indian journalists went to meet him at his home. He came out, met them, shook hands and then went back without saying a word about cricket or getting himself photographed.

Once someone asked him to say, in one word, how he would like to be remembered. He thought for a while and said: "Integrity". That was Sir Don Bradman. I don't know if he said it in the context of what is going on in cricket these days. Though he did not say anything directly, he was definitely upset about it.

He was the ultimate God of cricket. When I phoned him on his 90th birthday, he could hardly hear me. I had to shout. But when he finally made out who I was, he thanked me for calling and wishing him. He shared some jokes before ending the conversation. He was a super human being. With his death, the game is poorer.

Bishen Singh Bedi spoke to Onkar Singh

TRIBUTE:
'I am sure he is in a happy place now'

YOU MAY ALSO WANT TO READ:
The boy from Bowral

Genesis -- the making of a Don!
'I dearly wanted to do well...'
'I'm honoured,' says Bradman
The last hurrah...
Tendulkar, Warne toast Bradman on 90th birthday
The most famous duck in history
Bradman marches to Bombay
Wish the Don...

EXTERNAL LINKS:
Bradman passes away
Passing of a legend
Funeral to be a private affair
Australia mourns the Don
Don embodied Aussie ideals: Benaud
The most formidable cricketer to ever picked up a bat
Poetry and Murder: Don's near century of the best
Bowral boy at the heart of a noble man
It's Don's Day today: can it be forever?
Don Bradman: The Times, London, obituary
Don: Slide show from the Sydney Morning Herald
Don: Another slide show from the Sydney Morning Herald

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