He was limping slightly from a minor leg strain, and wanted to avoid running.

Sprightly And Slim

When the magnetic name Bradman appeared on the scoreboard, the crowd around Australia’s prettiest cricket ground gave him an ovation.

He looked, at 54, sprightly and slim, and he wore his Australian cap.

The English players applauded him to the wicket.

Slow bowler Tom Graveney began to Bradman with a “grubber” outside the off stump—a “gift,” which “the Don” disdained to hit.

So Graveney pitched up true next ball straight, and Sir Donald straight-drove it for four. He played the next ball to the on-side.

Statham was the other bowler. Mr Don Chipp, M.P., edged him through slips for a single, and it became Bradman v Statham. The first ball from Statham was fast medium, and played firmly.

The next ball, pitched on the off, was fatal.

Not In “A Thousand Years”

Back in the new pavilion — the Bradman Pavilion, which Mr Menzies had officially opened this morning — Sir Donald said: “It wouldn’t happen in a thousand years.

“I played the ball with the middle of the bat. It went on to my left leg and on to the stumps, just hard enough to dislodge a bail.”

There was no Bradman-Bedser duel.

M.C.C. captain Ted Dexter had bowled Bedser, a great Test medium-pacer, for several overs before tea, and was reserving him for a tilt at his old rival once Sir Donald had got started.

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Legacy will benefit handsomely from Sir Donald’s decision to accept the Prime Minister’s invitation to lead his team.

Estimated gate takings of £2,000 will be supplemented by several hundred pounds from gifts and raffles, and Legacy may receive about £1,700.