The most famous duck in cricketing history

The doyen of cricket writing Neville Cardus summed up Don Bradman with the pithiest of cricketing descriptions, terming him ''a genius with an eye for business''.

Sixty one years ago, though, on an August 14 evening in 1948, that famous eye failed the Bowral-born genius utterly.

The Test innings in question was to be the Don's last, a fact neither he nor those who were at the Oval that fateful day, when the great man was to record his final failure, knew.

Sidney Barnes and Arthur Morris, the Australian openers, had given their side the perfect start, putting on 117 runs for the first wicket, after England had been shot out for 52.

But then, Barnes fell, and Bradman, captaining his Invicibles for the last time in a Test, arrived at the crease shortly before six o' clock to replace the opener.

The crowd gave him a rousing welcome on his way to the middle - old and young alike getting up on their feet and clapping fervently.

Once he stepped on to the field of play, Norman Yardley, the opposing skipper, insisted on shaking hands with the great man, while the rest of the English team doffed their caps to salute the Don (seen here).

Text: Sify Sports Desk | Getty Images

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