Interesting take on Bradman's concentration levels.

[peterhrt]

Could you provide some numbers for Stanley Colman, John Stuck, Len Newman and Tray Grinter? They might also have close to 200 centuries in all of cricket.

200 centuries in minor cricket:

Joe Misso 310 (168 in Ceylon; 142 spread mainly between Teddington Town, GWR, Turnham Green, Brentham). Scored last century in 1978.
Len Newman 250 (Alexandra Park). Retired 1953.
John Stuck 213+ (Clacton-on-Sea, Two Counties Seniors, Essex Seniors). Still playing.
"Tray" Grinter 210 (South Woodford, Wanstead, Frinton-on-Sea, Stoics). Career divided either side of the First World War, during which he suffered a permanent arm injury. 8 first-class matches for Essex, no hundreds.
Leo Bennett 200+ (BBC). Scored 200th century in 1959. 16 first-class matches for Northamptonshire, no hundreds.

Stanley Colman did not score 200 centuries. He was the first to record 100,000 runs in club cricket. He died in 1942. Played mainly for Wanderers and Crystal Palace.

Regular first-class cricketers with 200 centuries in all cricket: Hobbs 244, Grace 222, Hick 215+, Bradman 211, Gooch 200+.

 

[Coronis]

200 centuries in minor cricket:

Joe Misso 310 (168 in Ceylon; 142 spread mainly between Teddington Town, GWR, Turnham Green, Brentham). Scored last century in 1978.
Len Newman 250 (Alexandra Park). Retired 1953.
John Stuck 213+ (Clacton-on-Sea, Two Counties Seniors, Essex Seniors). Still playing.
"Tray" Grinter 210 (South Woodford, Wanstead, Frinton-on-Sea, Stoics). Career divided either side of the First World War, during which he suffered a permanent arm injury.
Leo Bennett 200+ (BBC). Scored 200th century in 1959.

Stanley Colman did not score 200 centuries. He was the first to record 100,000 runs in club cricket. He died in 1942. Played mainly for Wanderers and Crystal Palace.

Scoring tons against actual dinosaurs

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

I like that they’re completely different types of “freaks” too. Like Bradman was not a physical freak at all. Even had poor eyesight.

Complete different types. The only slight possibility for someone to maybe, maybe be close to Bradman is copying everything that he did from his golf ball hitting against water tank, to everything related to him. Idk why there is no one in the world actually preparing a group of young child’s to bat like Bradman. Just look at the domination of fighters from Dagestan in UFC. Just look at what Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did.
Khabib and Islam basically look from whole different galaxy to anyone.

Cricket imho is missing out a lot, you have guy f**king averaging 40 more than anyone in history and no one is really giving that big of effort to prepare a group of people like him.

 

[Ali TT]

Scoring tons against actual dinosaurs

They would've been pretty statuesque in the field to be fair

 

[the big bambino]

It would look imposing but a team of Tyrannosaurs were useless in the slips as their puny arms could not reach many catches. Neither could they bring their arms over to bowl or hold the bat properly.

I think these are factors those who glorify the past tend to overlook when praising cricketers from that era ... No wonder Bradman scored so many runs.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

The more I think of Bradman, the more I think why the f**k is there no one really doing what Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did in UFC and MMA.

You have a guy who’s basically the greatest player in history by a long, long shot and no one is really attempting to make someone like him. Have a group of very young guys, disciplined, highly religious, devoted similar to what Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did. Those guys eventually make take over cricket similar to UFC.

And it’s not really something unproven. There is this guy who averaged 100, became far and away the best player to ever live. The more I think about it the more insane it gets. Given there are loads of people familiar with everything related to Bradman and about cricket in general.

 

[Ali TT]

It would look imposing but a team of Tyrannosaurs were useless in the slips as their puny arms could not reach many catches. Neither could they bring their arms over to bowl or hold the bat properly.

I think these are factors those who glorify the past tend to overlook when praising cricketers from that era ... No wonder Bradman scored so many runs.

He did struggle in a match against an all-female team of velociraptors. Bowled offering no shot to a wrong-un, the bamboozled Bradman was heard to remark "clever girl" as he walked back to the pavilion.

 

[the big bambino]

He did struggle in a match against an all-female team of velociraptors. Bowled offering no shot to a wrong-un, the bamboozled Bradman was heard to remark "clever girl" as he walked back to the pavilion.

Serves him right for attempting pad play to the wrong 'un.

 

[shortpitched713]

Complete different types. The only slight possibility for someone to maybe, maybe be close to Bradman is copying everything that he did from his golf ball hitting against water tank, to everything related to him. Idk why there is no one in the world actually preparing a group of young child’s to bat like Bradman. Just look at the domination of fighters from Dagestan in UFC. Just look at what Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov did.
Khabib and Islam basically look from whole different galaxy to anyone.

Cricket imho is missing out a lot, you have guy f**king averaging 40 more than anyone in history and no one is really giving that big of effort to prepare a group of people like him.

That's circumstantial evidence to me that something a bit "weird", or better put something which cannot be replicated by skill alone, i.e. some unique circumstances were at play in explaining a meaningful part of Bradman's out of the universe output.

 

[Ali TT]

That's circumstantial evidence to me that something a bit "weird", or better put something which cannot be replicated by skill alone, i.e. some unique circumstances were at play in explaining a meaningful part of Bradman's out of the universe output.

Yes the unique circumstances of that era were that one guy averaged nearly 100 while no one else was better than 60, whereas during any era before or since no one has averaged more than 60

 

[shortpitched713]

Yes the unique circumstances of that era were that one guy averaged nearly 100 while no one else was better than 60, whereas during any era before or since no one has averaged more than 60

What is the reason that no one else, even the most superbly talented and hardworking throughout history, couldn't even get close to replicating it?

Tell me he's just that much better and skilled, while believing it. I don't think anyone does. Those who do, don't really understand how much statistically better he did.

 

[the big bambino]

I think people are aware of how much statistically better he was. While others have been able to score centuries, doubles and triples, he had a unique skill in converting starts to centuries and then to daddy hundreds that was beyond the capabilities of anyone else who played the game.

No so called special condition that conveniently fell in the years he played and then no other, explains it. Not the ridiculous foundational theory, not the mistaken belief it was a “flat era” or the even more incredible precondition that everyone else who played in that era must’ve been collectively and individually the worst players ever …

He had a unique and perhaps unmatchable ability to convert starts and the stamina to fully capitalise. This btw is the goal of every batsman. It’s not unusual that a hierarchy forms separating them out according to how successful they have been in achieving the standard.

 

[Coronis]

iirc Hobbs also learnt to bat with a stump and a tennis ball.

Its surprising nobody has recognised this and trained their youngsters accordingly.

 

[the big bambino]

Tennis ball is more than twice the size of a golf ball. No wonder he was only half as good.

 

[mr_mister]

What is the reason that no one else, even the most superbly talented and hardworking throughout history, couldn't even get close to replicating it?

Tell me he's just that much better and skilled, while believing it. I don't think anyone does. Those who do, don't really understand how much statistically better he did.

I know it's probably already been covered, but do you consider Hammond to be around Hussain/Atherton levels? Because that's about where you'd have rank Wally if you can't accept Bradmans average

 

[shortpitched713]

I know it's probably already been covered, but do you consider Hammond to be around Hussain/Atherton levels? Because that's about where you'd have rank Wally if you can't accept Bradmans average

Well, I don't generally like making those across generations comparisons, but I do believe players were getting better at a faster rate earlier on in the century and more gradually continually in more recent times.

So the answer to your question to me is probably, especially when you consider the alternative which in my mind seems less likely.

 

[Patience and Accuracy+Gut]

That's circumstantial evidence to me that something a bit "weird", or better put something which cannot be replicated by skill alone, i.e. some unique circumstances were at play in explaining a meaningful part of Bradman's out of the universe output.

Or probably there has never been anyone like him. Smith at his peak absolutely stood out of everyone. He was no Bradman. I don’t think anyone could average 99.94 nowadays at least for 20 ish year career like Bradman. But, I still think it is possible to see a huge huge outlier. If anyone can average say 75 ish or even 70 ish for a whole career that would probably make them the best sportsperson of this century. For me definitely easily.

You talked about Morphy, Grace who stood out. Tbh as much as I love both of them both did play in very infancy age. I mean you aren’t ever convincing me or anyone that knows cricket that Stan McCabe couldn’t play today. This guy averaged twice as much as that. That’s unbelievable. Bradman may well be imho using the word very carefully here The Greatest Phenomenon in the history of sports.

 

[capt_Luffy]

iirc Hobbs also learnt to bat with a stump and a tennis ball.

Its surprising nobody has recognised this and trained their youngsters accordingly.

Just think what could be achieved with a pachinko ball......