Bradman Boast from Lanka

Sri Lanka will always have boasting rights over India in one matter. Don Bradman played on their soil, but never India’s.

The triangular in Sri Lanka has acquired an edge after Suraj Randiv’s no-ball to Virender Sehwag. Whatever happens, Sri Lanka will always have boasting rights over India in one matter. Don Bradman played on their soil, but never India’s. Bradman played at the P Sara Oval in Colombo on 31 March 1948. It was an exhibition match between Ceylon and Australia’s Invincibles team, which had stopped over on their way back home from England. This remains the only time Bradman padded up on Asian ground. 

The Sri Lankans were so excited they measured the pitch wrong. It was only 20 yards. This was rectified soon. Present at the match was Chandra Schaffter, who went on to play first-class cricket and hockey for Ceylon. Then 18, Schaffter says, “Bradman didn’t score very much. Neil Harvey didn’t play. Sid Barnes played, but he started vomiting after too much of beer the night before. Arthur Morris also played. Keith Miller also played.” But it was Bradman who was responsible for filling up the stands. Scahffter says, “It was like Michael Jackson coming.”

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Akshay Sawai