The stamp of greatness, which in any case is hard to earn, is perhaps harder in the digital age. If Google has not dedicated a doodle, you still have some distance to travel to be regarded as the one of the greatest of all time. Considering cricket is yet to attain the status of global sport, not many from the gentleman’s game have forced their way to a Google doodle. But there are exceptions. Indian cricket’s Renaissance man Dilip Sardesai was one of them and today it was the turn of the greatest ever to have played the game – Sir Donald George Bradman - to get the honours.
Google marked the 110th birth anniversary of Sir Don Bradman by dedicating a doodle to the Australian. Often referred to as "The Don", he has a number of accolades to his kitty, with a Test batting average of 99.94, considered as the greatest achievement by any sportsman in a major sport.
During his 20-year stint, Bradman consistently scored at a level that earned him fame as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. He is known for leading an Australian team known as "The Invincibles" on a record-breaking unbeaten tour of England.
Post his retirement, Bradman retained a pre-eminent position in the game by acting as an administrator, selector, and writer for three decades.
The Australian cricketer continues to hold a number of records, including those of highest career batting average, highest series batting average, the highest ratio of centuries and double centuries per innings played, among others. He is also known for being the first batsman in Test history to score two triple centuries, first and only batsman to have remained unbeaten on 299 in a Test inning, and the first batsman to score a Test triple century (304) at number 5 position.
Bradman was hospitalised with pneumonia in December 2000, two months after which he breathed his last at his residence on 25 February 2001 at the age of 92.
In 2009, the ace cricketer was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.