Sydney: Sir Donald Bradman, in a rare public statement, said he was
humbled to learn he had been chosen as Wisden's cricketer of the 20th
century.
The semi-reclusive Australian, whose Test batting average of 99.94 has
stood unchallenged since he retired in 1948, released a brief statement
on Thursday to show his appreciation of the award.
''I am very honoured to be recognised by Wisden in this way,'' Bradman
said.
Bradman, who lives alone in his suburban Adelaide home, said he was just
as thrilled to learn England's Sir Jack Hobbs had also been selected as
one of the top five players.
''I am very pleased that Jack Hobbs was also chosen, as he was one of my
boyhood heroes,'' Bradman said.
Bradman was the clear winner of Wisden's poll to decide the top five
players of the last century, and the only player chosen by each of the
100 panelists.
West Indies captain Sir Garfield Sobers finished second with 90 votes
ahead of Hobbs, 30, Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, 27, and Sir
Vivian Richards, former West Indies captain, with 25.
Warne was the only specialist bowler as well as the only current player
to make the top five.
Like Bradman, Warne, who broke Dennis Lillee's Australian Test record of
355 wickets against New Zealand a fortnight ago, said he was thrilled by
the recognition.
''It's a huge honour to be included while I'm still playing and it's
hard for me to wrap my head around it,'' Warne said.
''I'm very shocked because I didn't know about it. Even if I had known
about it, I wouldn't have expected to be chosen.''
Unlike the other four greats, all knighted by the British monarch on the
nomination of their governments, Warne is unlikely to become Sir Shane -
Australia and its state governments no longer nominate people for
British honours.
(c) Reuters Limited. Click here for Restrictions
Back
