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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 5, Issue 5 (September 1, 1930)

A Cricket Wizard

A Cricket Wizard.

A search up and down England for bowlers to stop Bradman's march failed. On his season's showing there is an inevitability about this scoring machine that marks the arrival of something different from what has gone before. Other batsmen have been brilliant or consistent, or even both, but through the English Tests Bradman's big scores ran on like the brook. Of course, he may not have another such season; he may not retain his form; but that he should have done so to the extent he has done—in a new country and on strange wickets—is sufficiently amazing. A batsman is not like a Rugby footballer. Individual action by a Rugby player is generally a matter of seconds; mostly, he is a cog in a fifteen-men machine. But a batsman stands alone for hours (if he can) with everyone against him. His is a test of nerve as well as skill. With the eyes not only of the crowd but of an Empire on him, Bradman has turned defence into attack. No fiercer light ever beat upon a cricketer. Who will deny that Bradman, Grimmett and company deserved to bring “the ashes” home?