When people discuss the all-time great players in cricket history, Don Bradman is often mentioned. Lovingly called ‘The Don� Bradman is often considered one of the best batsmen ever. While calling him the pinnacle of batting seems bold, his remarkable legacy and unbelievable statistics make a compelling case.

Bradman was a dominant player

Bradman played during a time when batting was more difficult than it is today. He played in uncovered pitches that were unpredictable. During those days, there was limited protective gear, so they didn’t play with helmets, gloves, or pads. That meant it would have been tougher and more dangerous to be a batsman, but Bradman made it look easy.

During his career, Bradman was dominant, which was enough for England to use their infamous Bodyline tactic to stop him. That was a brutal and short-pitched attack aimed at his body, so he would find it tough to bat away. Despite that being effective, Bradman still affected the game with good batting.

That is proven by his Test numbers, averaging 99.4 runs in matches. Those are absurd numbers because it meant he would have had a century in almost every match he played. Bradman was not only a prolific batsman, but he was also the biggest threat on the field.

Bradman’s amazing impact

During the Great Depression in Australia, the nation needed hope and inspiration. For a lot of people, Bradman was the man who lifted their spirits at a time when the country was struggling. Cricket was the sport that enticed people and Bradman consistently delivered awesome performances, which kept the people happy and captivated.

The country became a dominant force in world cricket because of Bradman. He was even knighted for his services to the game, one of a few cricketers to receive such an honour. Bradman has a lasting legacy because of his achievements on the field, with tributes found across Australia through stamps, coins, museums, and awards in his honour.

Bradman stacks up to the modern greats

Bradman will inevitably get compared to the modern-day greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Steve Smith, and Virat Kohli. Today’s players benefit from having advanced equipment and optimal pitch conditions, Bradman did not have that back in the day. Despite that, he kept up with their numbers, which is an impressive feat due to the sport’s evolution since Bradman’s playing days.

Even though he played fewer matches, Bradman’s dominance still stands tall against everyone. He has a strong case for being one of the greatest batsmen in history, possibly the greatest to ever do it. The Don stands head and shoulders above most of the cricket world, potentially surpassing every batsman who has ever played the sport. 

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India paused its domestic cricket league due to rising safety concerns linked to tensions with Pakistan. As a result, many foreign players, including stars like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, left the country. The league resumes on May 17, but this overlaps with other commitments for Australian players.

Australian players now face a tough choice: return to India for league play or represent their country in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa. Cricket Australia (CA) has expressed support for whatever decision players make, leaving the choice up to each individual. 

Aussie cricketers confirmed returning to India

Pat Cummins and Travis Head chose to play Hyderabad’s remaining matches in India. Since their team is already out of the playoff race, these will be their only games before returning to join Australia’s WTC squad. 

On the other hand, Josh Hazlewood also confirmed that he will return to play for his team in India. He had been sidelined with an injury, and many expected him to skip the league and focus on the WTC instead. However, he chose to return and play for Bengaluru, but with intentions to also commit to the Australian WTC squad. 

Aussie players who are uncertain to return to India

Josh Inglis and Aaron Hardie are likely to be available, but haven’t confirmed their plans. Since neither was selected for the WTC squad, they are more likely to return to India. Cricket Australia continues to support players�choices, giving them the option to return home due to safety concerns.

Aussie players who won’t be in India to finish the league

Jake Fraser-McGurk will not return to the remaining matches of the 2025 Indian cricket league. Mustafizur Rahman, the left-arm fast-bowler from Bangladesh, will fill in for the Australian player’s absence. Unlike the other players, he cited ‘personal reasonsâ€?for deciding to skip the rescheduled league and has decided to keep it private. 

Mitchell Starc has also declared skipping the rest of India’s cricket league. Reasons he cited include his commitment to the WTC and concerns about his safety in the country. He will be dedicating his following day's training to Team Australia moving forward. 

Cricket Australia supports players�individual decisions

CA went through different stances. Originally, they wanted Australian players to prioritise the WTC, given that the Indian league group stage is ending just 8 days before their match with South Africa. This changed to giving individual players freedom to choose concerning playersâ€?commitment and their partnership with India. 

Aussie cricketer dilemma: WTC, India, and safety

The Indian domestic T20 league, the international WTC final, or personal safety? That’s the question running through many Australian playersâ€?minds. Players like Cummins, Starc, Head, and Hazlewood have all three to juggle, while others only have to fear for their safety. Eventually, they made their decision, and CA decided to respect it. 

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Australian cricket is mourning after former Test opener Keith Stackpole passed away on Tuesday, April 22, after a suspected heart attack. He played 43 Test matches for Australia from 1966 to 1974. During that time, he made 2,807 runs, scoring seven centuries with an average of 37.42.

Stackpole grew up in Collingwood, Melbourne. He started playing for Victoria in 1964 and later led the team to a Sheffield Shield title win in 1973-74. He also joined Australia’s ODI lineup from 1971 to 1974 before retiring. After cricket, he became a respected voice in the sport's commentary box for ABC, Channel 9, and Seven.

A look back at Stacky’s cricket legacy

Stackpole had many big moments in the Ashes. In the 1970-71 Ashes, he hit his career-best 207 runs in the first Test at Brisbane, even after a close run-out call. He continued his form in the 1972 Ashes in England as Ian Chappell’s vice-captain. He led the series with 485 runs, averaging 53.88—topping the Australian batting average record.

He was later named the ‘Wisden’s Cricketer of the Year�in 1973. Locally, Stackpole also won the Ryder Medal thrice as the best player in Melbourne’s district cricket contest.

Cricketer friends paid tribute to the legend. Cricket Australia chairman Mike Baird shared, ‘Keith was one of the great contributors to the game of cricket and his legacy will live long into the future�

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