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Sir Donald Bradman |
The open confrontations, the brazen show of gamesmanship, rapid commercialisation of the game thanks to Twenty20 cricket is something Sir Don would have never approved of, believes Harvey.
"Bradman would have been disgusted with the behaviour of today's cricketers. The last series out here with India was an absolute disgrace; both teams were to blame. They just sort of turned a lot of people off.
There is absolutely no need for that sort of thing. I am sure if Bradman would have been here, he would stepped in and told them to cut it out," Harvey told MiD DAY over the phone from his Sydney home.
Harvey was witness to the infamous Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January. The match is remembered for the racial spat between Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds and the unsporting behaviour of the Australian team relating to controversial catches.
Having been captain of the Australian team in that Test, Ricky Ponting, was in the centre of controversy. Ironically, Ponting has been chosen to deliver an oration at the birth anniversary of Sir Donald Bradman at the special Centenary Dinner in Sydney.
"I don't think there is any such thing as the spirit of cricket anymore. It has disappeared from the game, and it is a sad reflection on the blokes who play the game nowadays. I don't know why it is. Is it because the money?
Money seems to change people's attitude towards life and it is the main reason why the players misbehave on the field nowadays," said the 79-year-old Harvey.Overall, would Bradman have been happy with the direction the game is taking? "I doubt it.
Knowing him, he would probably turn up his nose at Twenty20 cricket. He was not all that keen on one-day cricket either. The way things are going he would not like that too much at all with your Twenty20 (IPL) carnival stuff over there (India)⦠it was pretty ordinary cricket," said Harvey.
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Neil Harvey |
Talking about the qualities he looked up to in his first Australian skipper, Harvey said: "His attitude to the game, his determination, his application. Bradman picked the ball up probably quicker, line and length wise, than anybody else I have seen."
Even though the Bradman disapproves of limited overs cricket, Harvey believes it is not because of a lack of ability to adapt to the faster game.
"He would have played any sort of cricket and he would played beautifully, whether Twenty20 or 50 overs. He would have scored faster than anybody else. And why wouldn't he be a champion in it? He had all the ingredients for it," he said.
Entertainer
For Bradman, the most important thing in the game was to provide entertainment. He always played the game keeping this in mind and it was the reason for his unparalleled popularity, said Harvey.
"Bradman always wanted to see three qualities in a cricketer - his feet movement, his strokeplay and his willingness to get on with the game. He believed that a good player is there to entertain the public. If you can find those three ingredients in a player, you could probably find one of Bradman's type."
Super selector
After his retirement, Bradman served as a selector for a long time and players like Richie Benaud regard him as the best. Harvey, who served with him in the selection committee for four years, vouches for it. Ian Chappell, Dennis Lillee, Rodney Marsh are a few examples of Bradman's selection.
"It was quite a period that (late 1960s). A lot new stars came through - Lillee, Chappell and Marsh," recalled Harvey.
"No other man was as knowledgeable about cricket. He knew the game backwards. He was just one of those people who was great at whatever he did. He had been playing for a long, long time and he had played under all conditions. He knew what to look for in a player and he did it well."
Sole criticism
The only criticism Bradman faced in his life was of being indifferent to his teammates. Harvey said: "He was a private person, sure, and I suppose you called him a reserved person, but hell of a good bloke all the same time. I had a lot of time for him."
"He was a freak, a great captain and the best cricketer that's ever been."
Harvey to be blamed for Don missing a perfect 100
Neil Harvey revealed that he is also to be blamed for Sir Don Bradman finishing four runs short of an average of 100 (Bradman averaged 99.94).
"People blame me for him not averaging a hundred because of what happened in the 1948 Leeds Test, where we got 404 for three wickets on the last day to win. When we lost the third wicket, we needed four to win.
It was my turn to bat, and Bradman was at the other end. The bowler bowled on the leg-side and I hit it for four and that was the end of the game.
People blame me, they say if you were to give Bradman strike, he would have hit the four and he would have averaged 100 in Test cricket. So, it was my fault, you see.
"However that's how it turned out and we can't do much about it, can we?"
Don's last match
It's funny you know because, nobody, knew he needed four to average a hundred because statistics did not mean much.
He was out in two balls. He just walked into the dressing room, sat down, took his pads off and said just one sentence thanking the team.
We thought he will get another go in the second innings but after bowling England out for 52, you haven't much chance of having a second go, have you?
Not the one for advice
"He wasn't the guy to throw advice at anybody. If somebody asked him something, he would do something about it.
The only thing he ever told me in his life was: 'If you keep the ball on the ground, you can't get out'. It's not bad advice when you think of it."
(More Bradman stories tomorrow)
