Letters written by the late Australian cricket icon Donald Bradman have surfaced, revealing his admiration for fellow Aussie legends Shane Warne and Steve Waugh, as well as his early recognition of a young Ricky Ponting as a “future Test prospect” for the nation. According to The Age, the letters, penned during the 1980s and 1990s, were addressed to British entertainer Peter Brough, a close friend of Bradman’s.

They offer insights into Bradman’s thoughts on fame, cricket, admiration for players, and even politics. The two met through Bradman’s father, Arthur, during tours to England in the 1930s, forming a friendship that lasted until Brough’s death in 1999. Bradman passed away two years later, in 2001. The letters were later donated to the National Library of Australia (NLA) by Brough’s family.

In one letter dated July 31, 1991, Bradman expressed joy over South Africa’s reinstatement in international cricket following its apartheid ban. He wrote, “What great news that South Africa has been re-admitted to the fold. It will help restore the balance on the ICC (International Cricket Council), and in three or four years, they will probably have a fine Test team. I always found the South African cricketers charming fellows and some of them were my greatest friends.”

Widely regarded as the greatest batter in cricket history, Bradman scored 6,994 Test runs at an astounding average of 99.94, with 29 centuries and 13 fifties in 52 Tests. He was also a keen admirer of leg-spin bowling.

During a 1996 interview with Ray Martin, conducted to raise funds for the Bradman Museum in Bowral, Bradman lamented the decline of leg-spin bowling following Richie Benaud’s retirement in 1964. He attributed this to the growing emphasis on economy in the one-day international (ODI) format. “The great tragedy of modern cricket is the demise of the slow leg-spinner,” he wrote in a letter. “Primarily, it seems to be due to the one-day games in which ‘economy’ is the only thing that matters. You do not have to get the other fellow out; you only have to stop him scoring runs. Of course, young leg-spinners, when learning their trade, are always a bit expensive.”

In 1992, Shane Warne made his international debut, and by early 1993, Bradman had taken notice. In a letter dated March 15, 1993, he wrote, “But thankfully, we may at last have produced a good leg-spinner in young Warne. He’s only 23 and really spins the ball. I am impressed by his accuracy. In the Test versus New Zealand now being played, he is conceding less than two runs an over, which is tremendous. He should do well in England.”

By November 1994, Bradman had described Warne as “the best slow spinner produced by Australia excepting Bill O’Reilly.” Warne’s performance during the 1994/95 Ashes series, where he claimed 27 wickets at an average of 20.33, further validated Bradman’s assessment.

Eighteen months later, Bradman gave Warne the highest praise, writing, “Shane Warne is bowling brilliantly and causing all sorts of trouble. Excepting [Bill] O’Reilly, Warne is the best slow leg-spinner we’ve produced, better even than [Clarrie] Grimmett, and that is very high praise.”

Warne went on to fulfil Bradman’s expectations, finishing as Australia’s second-highest international wicket-taker with 1,001 scalps across formats. His 708 Test wickets remain iconic, and he was instrumental in Australia’s 1999 World Cup win, earning the ‘Player of the Match’ award in the final.

Bradman also had a sharp eye for batting talent. In 1985-86, he recognised Steve Waugh as a potential star, writing, “Young Steve Waugh gives every sign of being a class bat.” Waugh later became one of Australia’s greatest players, scoring 18,496 international runs and leading the team to World Cup victories in 1987 and 1999.

In 1995, Bradman identified a teenage Ricky Ponting as a “future Test prospect.” In a letter dated October 22, 1995, he wrote, “Young Ponting of Tasmania played a beautiful innings here yesterday and looks a Test prospect.” Ponting went on to become one of cricket’s all-time greats, leading Australia to back-to-back World Cup wins in 2003 and 2007, and scoring 27,368 international runs, the most by any Australian.

Bradman’s letters not only reveal his cricketing genius but also highlight his ability to foresee greatness in players who would go on to shape the sport.

Steve Smith celebrates his century during the India vs Australia 3rd Test.© AFP

Australia spinner Adam Zampa overtook former pacer Nathan Bracken to become Australia’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in ODIs on Saturday. Zampa made this upward movement in the charts during the fourth ODI against England at Lord’s. In the match, Zampa was somewhat the only positive for Australian bowling, taking two wickets for 66 runs in eight overs at an ecomomy rate of 8.25. He got crucial wickets of half-centurions Ben Duckett and Harry Brook.

Now, in 102 ODIs since his debut in 2016, Zampa has taken 175 wickets at an average of 27.99, with best figures of 5/35. He has 11 four-wicket hauls and a five-wicket haul in ODIs.

On the other hand, Bracken, a prominent Aussie pacer from 2001-09, once ranked number one in 50-over format, took 174 wickets in 116 ODIs at an average of 24.36, with best figures of 5/47. He took five 4-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls in ODIs.

Pace legends Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee (380 wickets each) are joint-highest wicket-takers in ODIs for Aussies.

Coming to the match, Australia won the toss and opted to field first.

England started off with a fine 48-run opening stand between Phil Salt (22 in 27 balls, with three fours) and Ben Duckett. After a brief stumble, skipper Harry Brook recorded a 79-run partnership with Duckett (63 in 62 balls, with six fours and a six) and a 75-run partnership with Jamie Smith (39 in 28 balls, with a four and two sixes). Brook missed out on a well-deserved second-successive ODI ton, scoring 87 in 58 balls, with 11 fours and a six.

Liam Livingstone (62* in 27 balls, with three fours and seven sixes) provided some brilliant finishing touches, smashing Mitchell Starc for 28 runs as England scored 312/5 in their 39 overs.

Adam Zampa (2/66) was the pick of the bowlers. Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Josh Hazlewood got a wicket each.

In the run-chase, openers Travis Head (34 in 23 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes) and skipper Marsh (28 in 34 balls, with two fours and a six) provided a fine start with a 68-run stand. However, after their partnership was broken, it was all downhill for Australia, who was skittled out for 126 in 24.4 overs, thanks to brilliant spells from Matthew Potts (4/38) and Brydon Carse (3/36). England levelled the five-match series 2-2 with a 186-run win.

Brook secured the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Former Australia cricketer Steve Waugh opined that Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli’s performance will be key in India’s win in the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. The 2024/25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy will see India and Australia squaring off in the all-important five-match series at Perth, Adelaide (pink-ball game), Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, respectively. The first Test between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22. “It’ll be a good series with two very good teams, equally matched. India has a good chance to win in Australia because they have a very strong bowling attack. With Bumrah, Siraj, and Shami, they have an excellent pace attack, and they also have many good spinners, such as Jadeja, Ashwin, and Kuldeep but the key will be Jasprit Bumrah’s performance with the ball and Virat Kohli’s performance with the bat. Bumrah is an excellent bowler, the more he takes wickets, the higher the chances of India winning the series gets high,” Waugh told IANS.

“We have seen Virat’s performance in away conditions. The Indian batting depends on him, so he will be at the helm. However, Australia has a very good team as well, with a strong bowling attack. So, with two high-quality teams, I expect it to be an excellent series,” he added.

India enters this year’s series riding high on their dominance in recent Border-Gavaskar contests, having won the last four encounters, including two historic series wins on Australian soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

The victories have shifted the balance of power in the rivalry, with India now holding 10 series wins to Australia’s five. Australia’s last series triumph came in 2014-15, while their last victory on Indian soil dates back to 2004- 05.

The upcoming series, which stretches from November 22 to January 7, 2025, will feature iconic Australian venues. After the opener in Perth, the teams will travel to Adelaide Oval for the second Test from December 6 to 10, marking the only day-night Test of the series.

The third Test will take place at Brisbane’s Gabba from December 14 to 18, followed by the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The series will conclude with the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7.