GPS cricket legend and Churchie old boy Ken Archer reflects on why Donald Bradman was so great

To celebrate our coverage of the GPS First XI season starting today, we ask Churchie legend Ken Archer, Australia's oldest living Test cricketer, why Sir Don Bradman was the greatest.

It is a mystical subject for cricket lovers - what made Sir Donald Bradman so great?

If you saw Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Viv Richards, Greg Chappell, Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Steve Smith and Sachin Tendulkar bat, how could someone possibly average 99.96 in Test cricket?

Churchie old boy and Australia’s oldest living Test cricket Ken Archer, 93, has the answer.

“Batting requires a whole range of physical and mental skills and he had them all,’’ explained Archer, who played with Bradman in a testimonial match to honour Bert Oldfield and Alex Kippax.

“It is extraordinary what he did.

“He made a small and reasonably wiry body perform feats of physical stamina.

“Making 300 is not physically easy, but he did it easily

“And he kept it very simple. He never got into sophisticated theories very much.

“And the most extraordinary thing about that extraordinary little man was how ordinary he remained.

“A lifetime of adulation seemed to flow right over him - it never really changed him.’’

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Bradman was the greatest player he saw and played with, but who were some of the other great players of Archer’s life?

“Our batting champions were Neil Harvey and Arthur Morris. He (Morris) was up there with the greats,’’ said Archer, who played five Tests in 1950-51.

“Arthur’s career got curtailed by the war and by the early death of his first wife. He just did not feel like playing after that.

Arthur Morris, left, Sam Loxton and Neil Harvey - Morris and Harvey are two of Archer’s great batsmen picks, while Loxton was a mate of Archer.

“England had Len Hutton and Dennis Compton

“The West Indies had the three Ws (Worrell, Walcott, Weekes) of which Weekes was the most gifted and one of world’s great batsmen.

“In terms of bowling there was of course Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller and Bill Johnston, although he did not get publicity they did.

“England had Alec Bedser while the West Indies had two legendary spinners - Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine.’’

Ken Archer is out playing for Queensland. (Pic by unidentified staff photographer)

Archer, whose brother Ron also played Test cricket alongside another Churchie old boy, Peter Burge, said the greatest all-rounder he had seen was Sir Garry Sobers.

“He is a great, great player. He wins the best all-rounder.’’

Don Tallon is rated so highly by old-timers.

And Archer said another somewhat forgotten genius was a Queenslander.

“Of course I grew up playing and someone who is forgotten, the best wicket keeping genius is Don Tallon.

“He was the most gifted wicket keeper I have ever seen.

“He did things I never saw replicated,’’ said Archer.

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After his retirement he enjoyed watch “Davo’’, left arm bowling great Alan Davidson and of course Churchie old boy Burge, a powerful middle order batsman who averaged just under 40 in Tests.

“Burge is probably the best home grown (Queensland) batsmen we had, although some would say Matthew Hayden.

“Peter was a powerful player, and had a more traditional technique than Hayden.

“And Greg Chappell was one of the modern greats. He was a lovely player.’’

A typical pull shot by Burge.

While not a batting genius, Archer said playing with Bill Brown (three-time Ashes tourist) was a career highlight.

“Bill had been my boyhood batting hero,’’ Archer said.

“We pinched him back off NSW and I’d go down to the Gabba after school to watch my hero play delicate leg glances.

“And he was my captain when I began to play for Queensland and remained so for the next three or four years.’’

Allan Border, Ernie Toovey (front), Ray Lindwall (rear left) and Bill Brown with Queensland’s first ever Sheffield Shield.

He also praised an underrated Queensland fast bowler from the old days, Len Johnson.

“Len could have, in another era, could have been one of the great bowlers,’’ Archer said.

NOTE: Watch for our coverage of GPS cricket tonight and each Saturday evening during the first term of school at ww.couriermail.com.au

ROUND 1:

SATURDAY

BBC v TGS - Oakman Park

TSS v BGS - Village Green

BSHS v NUDGEE - Fursden Oval 2

IGS v TERRACE - Brassall 1 (Main Oval)

CHURCHIE - BYE

Originally published as GPS cricket legend and Churchie old boy Ken Archer reflects on why Donald Bradman was so great