Cricket Friendships

[slippy888]

Shaun Pollack and Allan Donald

 

[ashley bach]

Willey and Sidebottom

 

[Coronis]

Wasn't that a made-up story?

Upul Tharanga and Dilshan's wife however...

That’s exactly what Slats wants you to think.

I was serious when I mentioned Miller and Compton.

A joke answer would be Miller and Bradman.

Or O’Reilly and Bradman. Or Fingleton, Hammond, Vic Richardson or even Chappelli.

Found some stories just checking this out that I don’t recall hearing before.

Hammond:

When England toured New Zealand in 1933, Hammond passed Bradman’s then world record score of 334, and celebrated by looked skyward, letting out an uncharacteristic scream: “Yes.”

Their conflicts continued through the 30s, with Hammond allowing his batsmen to pile up 903 for seven at Oval, before declaring only after the doctor’s diagnosis reached him that Bradman’s ankle would render him unable to bat.

During Australia’s first innings, Bill Voce induced an edge off Bradman when he was on 28, and it was held in the slips by Jack Ikin. To the surprise of many, Bradman refused to walk, claiming the ball had gone to the fielder on the bounce. The umpires were unsure and allowed him to resume his innings.

Hammond was far from amused and as he crossed the batsman after the over, he remarked, “That’s a fine f***ing way to start a Test series.”

India (Merchant):

1948, on the way to England for Bradman’s final series, Strathaird, the ship carrying the Australian cricketers, docked at Bombay. The news reached many cricket-mad Indians who rushed to the harbour for a sight of the great man.

A large group of students gathered in the wharf, shouting, “We want Bradman.” When Bradman appeared at the rails of the deck, the cheer that went up was deafening.

Vijay Merchant led a contingent of Indian cricketers to Bradman’s cabin and requested him to disembark so that the men who had assembled could meet him. Vice-captain Lindsay Hassett, and journalists Ray Robinson and Fingleton obliged, and also went down for a bit of cricket at the Brabourne Stadium. Bradman, however, refused. He never set foot in India.

Richardson:

In Chappelli Speaks Out, Richardson’s grandson, Ian Chappell, remembers the following interaction between his grandfather and Bradman many years later.

Arthur Gilligan, the former England captain and close friend of Richardson, had just been made the MCC president. Bradman was graciously congratulating Richardson for his friend’s success, when the latter remarked, “Good thing they don’t work on the Australian system.”

“Why’s that Vic?” Bradman asked.

Richardson’s reply was biting, “In England the president is picked by his friends. If they had that system in Australia, you’d never get a vote, you c**t.”

tldr Bradman is a massive dick. Probably shouldn’t captain our ATG XI’s.