With over 2000 tributes already on CricInfo spead over 100 pages of the site, we thought it might be interesting to highlight a few selected gems. It is clear that Sir Don touched the hearts and lives of many.

Meetings with the great man

" A great man who epitomised everything that stood for the greatest game. A rare human being. A high point of my life was when he spent one whole morning with us, the Sri Lanka under 19 team of which Aravinda De Silva was the captain and I was the coach, and he was a lesson in humility."

Ranjit Fernando

"When I was 12 I went to Lords to watch Middlesex-v-Lancashire. I saw someone whom I thought was the Don sat watching the cricket with his wife. E.W. Swanton then sat down next to them and I knew it must be him. When Swanton got up to leave I asked him for his autograph. My request was rejected by Swanton with the aloof pompous arrogance for which he was famous. I was therefore very apprehensive about approaching a truly great man. I did however ask the Don for his autograph. He no doubt saw what Swanton's attitude had been and asked me to sit down next to him. for the next fifteen minutes he chatted to me, not about his own exploits but about my own cricket. He made me feel he was really interested in me, passing on advice (don't hit the ball in the air). Lady Bradman was also courteous. It was one of the highlights of my life. Not only the greatest batsman, but a truly great man who saw that a young boy had been treated rudely by someone who didn't know any better, and set out to make amends."

Jerry Turner

"I had the great honour of meeting Sir Donald way back in 1988. Here I was a lad of 15 knocking on the man's front door. He would have every right to ask me to leave - he didn't. He came, shook my hand, autographed my albums and had a quick chat. It was simple, but changed a young mans life. I shall always be grateful. Goodbye to a great champion, both of cricket and of life."

Matt Constable

Sir Donald played a big part in my first class career. Back in 1966 I was finding it very difficult to obtain leave from my employer, The Savings Bank of SA. Sir Donald then had a meeting with the General Manager of the bank pointing out that he thought I had the potential to represent Australia in the future. The next day I received a phone call from the General Manager advising me that after the meeting with Sir Donald, the Board of the Bank would grant me as much time off that was needed when I was selected to represent SA or Australia. This offer was then afforded to any other employee of the Bank. Sir Donald was alwayd prepared to give advice when asked."

Eric Freeman

"I meet Sir Don Bradman only in 1976 when I was working as a green keeper at Kooyonga Golf Club. He was a Gentleman then and is still in my thoughts a Gentleman."

Grahame Baker

"I had the lifetime's pleasure of meeting Sir Don at his home in 1998 for 20 minutes. Although I was expecting it, I was still struck by this great mans' modesty, charm and gentlemanly manners. He had strong opinions about today's cricketers. From my conversation with him, I didn't detect a single dimensional man, he wasn't just interested in cricket rather he had an interest in his business, his family and other such things. He is an example for all current cricketers, one that they will struggle to follow."

Youssef Mourra

"Having met Sir Don back in 1996 at his home, all I can say is that he was a really gentle, kind, down to earth man and his achievments will never be surpassed."

Jed Kemsley

From my earliest years I have revered the name Bradman and stood in awe of his greatness. My sons who are both teenagers also hold the name Bradman as the name of cricket. I have read many books on the life and deeds of Donald George Bradman, but the memory that stands out foremost in my mind is seeing the great man batting for the last time at Manuka Oval Canberra in February 1963 against the MCC playing for the PM's eleven. I was a mere nine years of age, but I vividly remember him walking out to face the likes of Statham (who bowled him). But I can better recall him walking back to the Pavilion with a smile on his face as he passed through the gates after being dismissed for 4. I will never forget the look on his face, and to this day I imagine him looking at me and smiling at me."

Graham Brill

I never met the man, but boy, I wish I had. I idolised him as a boy and even changed my batting stance so I could be just a little bit like him. For Xmas 1977, my older sister gave me a book, "Cricket, more than a game". I took it to the cricket with me all the time, collecting autographs, but alas, not the Don's. I took it with me when I did the tour of Adelaide Oval in 1997, and left it at the S.A.C.A. and then a few weeks later, a phone call, " Your book has been signed by Sir Donald and is ready for you". I find myself looking at it often, that glorious full page colour shot of him cover driving in the nets in England in '48 with his signature slicing across the page, and it gives me goosebumps. He will be sadly missed.

Mal Caporn

"The Don....what can be said. I was lucky enough, and deeply honoured to have received a letter from The Don regarding my cricket pursuits in India as a Blind Cricketer playing for Australia. His words were genuine and inspired me to perform at this, our highest level. The letter is a cherished item one which I use to inspire me every day."

Michael Linke

"My adoration of The Don began as a boy of twelve next to the fence at the SCG at the 2nd Test against England in Sydney in 1946. Don and S.G.Barnes made 234 each. I was too young to know then of the pressure on our men to win that Test after Australia was being thrashed in and by England at the last Test before the WWII.

I also saw him dismissed for 13 against India in Sydney bowled by Hazare. I was end on and could not believe my eyes as hero was yorkered went so cheaply that bright crisp summer morning. Without the benefit of replay, I can see it and still feel my heart sink as my boyish expectations of Don making at least 100 were extinguished."

Greg O'Regan

"Many thanks to the great man who was the first cricketer I wrote to. On receiving his reply I thought if Sir Donald could reply so could other cricketers. I have added another 2000 signatures to my collection since his reply."

Ian Curtis

"Only a few years ago I sent him just letter with his autobiography requesting for his autograph. He sent it back within a week. I wonder how he managed all these requests at such an age and how he responded to all requests from different parts of the world. What a legend. A great loss to cricket."

Ranjith Samaranayake

"As a child my greatest joy in the 1930s was to tune in to the cricket from London on my own home made crystal set (a coil, a crystal, a cat's whisker, a long wire hung from a tree as an arial and a pair of ear phones) with all the background noises that sounded like the waves of the sea and would often fall asleep while my hero Don Bradman was beating hell out of the Poms and wake with the excited commentator recording yet another century by the greatest of all our Australian sportspersons"

Bert Bernoth

Family memories

Many remembered the Don through their fathers and grandfathers

"My Grandfather, Brian Spooner, like The Don, is a private man and would never think to publicly tell of his own Bradman stories. I think he preferred to just tell his grandchildren, which made us feel very lucky. Having grown up in Adelaide some 15 years after The Don my grandfather played played grade cricket with a gentlemen who's surname I believe was Maddie, who told him this marvellous story. Maddie was a leg spinner of maturing years who had played grade cricket against The Don some years earlier during his prime. During a particular game Maddie's wife said that if he claimed The Don's wicket she would buy him a travelling trunk that he was in desparate need of. Before the game started Maddie approached The Don to tell of the deal his wife had struck with him hoping for some light-hearted conversation. Instead Bradman simply said nothing and continued on his business as he was accustomed to do. The game commenced and as Bradman came into bat Maddie had his wife's deal firmly in his mind. As he started his bowling spell against the master batsman his illusions of grandeur soon evaporated. Bradman meticulously tore not only Maddie but every bowler apart. It is not important to know his final score, except to say that it was well over 200. Just as all hope was fading for Maddie during one of the final overs of the day and Bradman's innings seemed to be eternal he popped up a simple catch to the cover fieldsman, quite deliberately. It hadn't quite sunk in to Maddie what had actually happened until Bradman strode past the bowler and smiled saying words to the effect of 'I hope you enjoy your new travel trunk.'"

Declan Barnett

"Thanks for putting a smile on my dad's face and a glint in his eye every time he remembered 'The Don'. In his words "As a kid you loved when he came to bat because you knew they'd be a century that session. After he retired, cricket was so bloody slow you could barely watch it. You didn't realise at the time that the game would never get any better than it was in those days." thanks Dad and thanks Sir Donald."

posted by "beggy"

"It is not a case of 'How will you remember' but 'How could you possibly forget'. For how could you forget his unsurpassed brilliance, his golf-ball and stump, his statistical average a blip short of perfection, your father's and grandfather's stories, those black and white images and the warm and comfortable silence that fills up the room when ever his name gets mentioned."

Ben Chadwick

"I am too young to have seen the Don, but learned a great deal from his "Art of Cricket" book. Yesterday, the day of Sir Donald's passing, I took my 6-year old son, an avid cricket fan, to his first experience of international cricket (NZ vs Pakistan at Christchurch). The coincidence of these two events is a poignant reminder to me of the circularity of life."

Matthew Turnbull

My grandfather met WG. He played for Crystal Palace FC when WG played for London County. None the less he rated Bradman the greatest batsman who ever lived. Many talented sportsmen, and I won't name names on this sad occasion, destroy a lifetime's achievement by their inadequacy as human beings. Like Grace, Bradman the man was as big as Bradman the cricketer. He will be sadly missed, not just as a historical figure, but as a living influence on Australian and world cricket. Even the Net forum for our local football team is overshadowed by his death. I do not have the words to express my feeling of loss."

John Rogers

"I never had the opportunity to see Don Bradman play, but I can always remember my grandfather describing to me the 452 he witnessed Bradman score against Queensland for NSW. He described it to me as the single most amazing peice of sport he had ever seen. Stories told to me as a youngster about the prowess of The Don sparked a fire in me that drives my passion for cricket today. I cannot imagine cricket as being a sport so filled with history if it were not for the achievements of Sir Donald Bradman."

"I'm 32 and some of my greatest memories are of the times I would just talk with my grandfather about you and your performances, the smile and the excitement on his face telling me about you"

Andrew Myers

"My grandfather told me stories about how all the traffic in Chapel Street would come to a halt whenever Sir Donald was batting, and how everyone would rush to the stores that had the wireless tuned to the cricket, so they could all listen."

Theresa Hunter

"In August 1948 - then just 5 years old - I was returning with my parents through the Kent village in which we then lived. Great-uncle Albert stood alone in the main street, dressed sombrely, looking morose. He had suffered a shock. Somebody had died? Perhaps our great-aunt as they were never seen apart. As we came up to him Albert gasped in a whisper as if he could not believe it: 'We've got Bradman for a duck'. The old man was dumb-struck. I feel a bit like that tonight."

Clayton Goodwin

"My first taste of the Australian national obsession with Don Bradman was when my father and I (aged 2) were listening to the 1948 5th test in Englanf when The Don was bowled for a duck by Hollies. My father let out a yell and a howl and bawled an obscenity, the major reason why I still remember it since I thought I had done something wrong!"

Shane Que Hee

Reactions to his death

"I got the message on Monday morning when my mum told me when i woke up. I didn't want to go to school, i didn't eat anything i was so shocked. I have posters in my room to show what a great player and legend he was. I really feel like framing them and putting them away for safe keeping. I am really shocked to hear the passing of a great legend that no one will ever be able to match. I will always remember him and i will tell my children on what a great hero he was."

Steven Duke

"On Sunday morning I was driving to the small town of Exeter, just south of Bowral, for an annual work cricket match. I had made good time from the Blue Mountains, so decided to call into the Bradman Oval to have a look. At about 9.30am I pulled up at the picturesque ground where teams of youngsters were warming up in preparation for their game, and read the plaque outlining Don's deeds. As it turns out this was around the time he passed away. I'll never forget that day, nor will those young cricketers I imagine."

Martin Bowerman

"The greatest batsman of all now takes his place in God's greatest eleven. I envy those who were lucky enough to watch him, I unfortunately only met him twice. His book Bradman on Cricket remains as a shrine in my office and will forever do so. No words can really do justice to his contribution to the greatest game. If ever there was a path to the holy shrine of batting, then Sir Donald Bradman was it. My family's condolonces go to his remaining family and he will always be remembered by all cricketers and those of us who love the game so much"

Bob Woolmer

"The captain and night watchman called him in at 92. And I find myself dismayed but not totally surprised, that The Don, now alone, forsook another century and quietly turned and walked towards the dim pavilion."

Jonno

"I was standing on a crowded peak hour underground train in London this morning when I read the news that the Great Man had passed on - that moment, when I read the newspaper, will be firmly embedded in my memory forever. Americans remember where they were when JKF was taken away - I'm sure all Australians will remember where they were when they learnt that Sir Donald Bradman passed away. Prayers to his family - Rest in peace humble hero."

Beaux Guarini

"From Vancouver: Tomorrow I will walk the pitch at Brockton Point in Stanley Park and remember that 'The Don' bestowed his blessing upon it as the most beautiful cricket ground in the world.

Chris Corrigan

The spread of his influence...

"A suitable epitaph perhaps. Many years ago I had a colleague with whom I shared a passion for Russian literature. In the 1950s he had run a country pub in the Derbyshire Peak Distict, where midweek lunchtime trade could be rather quiet. Les took advantage of this by spending hours sat behind the bar reading. One day a local farmer called in for a pint, and asked Les what he was reading. "Oh" says Les "it's 'Quiet Flows the Don' by a bloke called Mikhail Sholokov"."Bloody Hell, not another book about Bradman !" A felicitous misunderstanding, because he was certainly quiet, and the runs sure flowed."

Graham Turner

"The Don touched everyone in Australia and everyone who knew about cricket. I live in Tanzania and 2 weeks ago our little Geita Gold Mine cricket team invited a team of cricketers from Mwanza...(Indian descent but born in Tanzania) for a little 30 over game on our modest cement pitch and crater like oval. We played our match which ended in a tie. During the match friendly little jibes were bandied about by both sides.(ie "here comes Sachin"..."who do you think you are?".."Steve Waugh" etc...) One cheeky reply from a fellow Aussie cricketer, in reply to.."I suppose you think you are "Adam Gilchrist", was "Nah mate...more like Bradman". At this point all the Tanzania born Indians within earshot collapsed on the ground laughing. After recovering from their mirth...the Captain politely came up to the Aussie and said that "The Don" was right handed...not left handed. Amazingly these gentleman had heard of The Great Man and revered him almost as much as we did and still do. Long live Don Bradman. We must be due for a new National Holiday...lets call it....99.96 day"

Glenn Colgan

"I never saw the Don play, but with two grandfathers and a father that was cricket mad, it was a name that was revered in our household. One of the biggest tributes I think is that people from non-cricketing nations are aware of Sir Don and what he means to Australia. I was involved last year with the Olympics as a volunteer, and I remember an athlete from American Samoa that lived in the States asking me would Sir Don light the flame. Not someone you would think had a great understanding of cricket, let alone the characters or icons of the game. "

Neroli Walker

"'The Don' never really played cricket in my backyard and my brother never really bowled him neck and crop. He never slashed the English bowlers for four through the gate or into the dog house and was never given six and out for hitting the neighbour's glass doors. But in countless games played in the hearts and minds of a couple of young kids longing to be like a legend it really happened.

I know that I could never have really been like Bradman. For one thing it seemed matter how hard I tried I just couldn't seem to hit the golf ball cleanly with my stump. More importantly my cricket kit didn't include a baggy green and I could never have captained my country or stared fearlessly down the pitch at desperate English tearways.

But on my field of dreams (where the Poms just had to be beaten) I was 'The Don'. I was invincible, majestic, ruthless, elegant and deadly. I was without peer.

These days I understand that my mountain of backyard runs will never be recorded (by those statisticians too focussed on reality) alongside Sir Donald's records, but my memory of those days, as carefree and surefooted as 'The Don', will always be wonderful and comforting."

George Breton

"I just wanted to share a story on the influence and reach Don Bradman had on Australian youngsters. When I was in at primary school, we had to submitt a project on a famous person. The teacher asked each member of the class who they were doing their project on. Every member of the class said they were doing the project on Don Bradman. The teacher not wanting 30 assignments on the same person, said that 'anyone submitting an assignment on Don Bradman will at best get a B'.

But alas many of the students took no notice of the teacher and still submitted projects on the Don."

Alister Berkeley

Ideas to commemorate Bradman

Will McConnell wrote

"Let's create a Bradman public holiday, to commemorate the man he was.", seconded by "AB" who said "The day needs to be commemmorated with a national holiday.", and another tribute that says

"Let the day be known as the Bradman Memorial Day so ingrained was he, is he, will be in the national psyche."

Justin Dodd suggests "The First Test in India Should Be Named: "The Bradman Test" in houner of this great man."

"It is time to rename the Ashes after Bradman. It is time he receives an honour that men like the late Worrell, Gavaskar, Border and Kepler Wessels have. I would like to see the teams of Australia and India provide a 5 minute silence to acknowledge the loss of Cricket's greatest exponent and champion. I Let the Ashes become the Donald Bradman Trophy."

James Green Maio

Posted by Simon Ludborzs:- "At the International test to come to Adelaide this year, my friends and I are to wear black arm bands, as a mark of respect. I also sugget for this year a black arm band be included on the Australian uniform."

Posted by wayne jones:- "In memory of the late Sir Donald Bradman I encourage all grades of cricketers to pay their respect with a minutes silence before their games this week and to wear black armbands."

"This is a great loss to Australian Cricket and cricket in general. Australia (and ICC) should remember him by setting up a competiiton in his honour. How about 'The Bradman World Cup' tournament for tests competition between cricket playing nations. Or something along that line. May he rest in peace."

Brandon Chin

"Simply the new Test Match Championship should be played for the 'Bradman Trophy'"

Nik Stewart England

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