How was Sir Donald Bradman so significant?
BRADMAN’S NATIONAL ROLE As a national symbol, and in particular during the Great Depression or the early 1930’s, Sir Donald helped lift national pride through his cricketing achievements and in doing so lifted people’s spirits. This is probably his greatest legacy along with raising the profile of Australia internationally amongst cricket playing nations. At the time a higher proportion of the Australian population watched cricket live and listened to it on the radio and there were fewer other past-times to distract people. Bradman was a phenomenon and broke many long-standing cricket records in 1930. He was young, good-looking, respectful, eager and modest. In addition he almost single-handedly won back the Ashes from England when it was expected that England would win. This made Australians feel immensely proud that a young man (he was only 20) from the ‘bush’ could take on England, the home of cricket, and win. By focusing the nation’s mind on how this country lad could seemingly ef
