How often have you seen a batsman score a triple century on a single day of a Test match? In cricket history that record, fittingly, belongs to only one man – Sir Don Bradman.
Playing just his seventh Test match, which came during the 1930 Ashes, a 21-year-old Bradman walked into bat during the third Test of the series when his side was in trouble.
Read - Pause, Rewind, Play: While you are stuck at home, get better at cricket the Don Bradman way
With Australia electing to bat, Bradman was at the crease after just 11 balls on the first day at Leeds, soon after opener Archie Jackson had been dismissed for a run. What followed was an assault of unimaginable proportions by young Bradman against the English bowling attack.
Australia lost their next wicket at 194/2, thanks to Bradman, who stitched a 192-run stand with opener Bill Woodfull. Bradman had scored 142 runs out of those, getting to his hundred before lunch.
The youngster showed no signs of slowing down as he ruthlessly went past the 200-run mark by the tea break, scoring 220*. As per the book Great Australian Sporting Moments, this was the fastest-ever century scored before tea.
The right-hander was later offered a lifeline when dropped on 273 by wicket-keeper George Duckworth off George Geary’s bowling. The youngster made the most of the opportunity, achieving a triple century before the end of the day. He broke Reggie Foster’s record of 287 for most runs in a day, scoring an unbeaten 309.
Today in 1930: Don Bradman (334 in 449 balls, 46 fours) scores 309 in 420 balls on the 1st day of the Leeds Test vs England - remains the only batsman to score over 300 runs in a day's play in Test cricket!
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 11, 2020
Session
1st: 105 in 153 balls
2nd: 115 in 152 balls
3rd: 89 in 115 balls
On July 11th 1930 Don Bradman played one of Test cricket's remarkable innings, scoring 309* on the first day of the 3rd Test at Headingley. Walking out to face the 11th ball of the day, he was 105 at lunch, 220 at tea, and only gave one chance. Here he smiles on reaching his 300 pic.twitter.com/TaLBwAae9H
— Historic Cricket Pictures (@PictureSporting) July 11, 2020
Bradman added another 25 runs on the second day of the Test before nicking one to Duckworth, being dismissed by Maurice Tate for 339, a knock which had 46 boundaries.
Bradman played many more scintillating knocks in his career before cementing his legacy as Australia’s greatest batsman, but this triple century against England against was up there among his finest.
Watch the video here:
