‘Life of a recluse’: Don Bradman’s heartbreaking admission revealed

New revelations about Sir Don Bradman have given a heartbreaking insight into the Australian cricket icon’s final years.

Sir Donald Bradman became a “recluse” in his later years as the Australian cricket icon struggled with his relationship with fame.

Now letters sent from Bradman to his friend Peter Brough between 1984 and 1998, preserved by the National Library of Australia, have been unearthed and reveal an insight into the cricket legend’s mindset.

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They reveal he immediately became a fan of Shane Warne, wasn’t exactly a fan of former prime minister Paul Keating, and understood why some of Australia’s cricketers went to play in apartheid South Africa.

Bradman died in 2001 at the age of 92. He scored 29 Test centuries from 52 matches and retired with an average of 99.94. He remains fifth on the list of Australia’s centurions behind only Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Steve Waugh and Matthew Hayden.

Bradman played his last Test in 1948 and the attention on him remained intense as he aged.

The Bodyline TV miniseries was released in 1985, based on the infamous 1932-33 Ashes series.

Don Bradman said he became a recluse in his later years.

After attending Australia’s bicentenary Test match in 1988, Bradman wrote: “(Wife) Jessie and I have just returned from 10 days in Sydney at the Test celebrations. It nearly killed us. The publicity, the functions. Being on display … is not my idea of enjoyment.”

Month later, he said he much preferred being out of the spotlight and constant public attention.

“I prefer to be far away from crowds and publicity. My 80th birthday is coming up in August and I have already arranged to go away from Adelaide for a week to dodge all the fuss.”

He did a TV interview with Ray Martin in 1996 to raise funds for the Bradman Museum in Bowral.

“The government and Australia Post have announced the launch of stamps and envelopes bearing my image,” Bradman wrote.

“It is the first time in history a living Australian has been so honoured - previously only royalty and the dead. Of course it is a great honour to be officially dubbed a living legend but you should see my mail.

“It is colossal. People are crazy for autographs. I am doing nothing but answer mail.”

Sir Don Bradman at the Memorial Service for his wife Jessie. Photo: Pat/Hannagan.

Bradman’s wife Jessie died in 1997 and he opened up to Brough about how he was increasingly lonely and struggling dealing with fame.

“I am struggling to get on with life but wherever I turn there is sadness and memories. Even after a game of golf or bridge there is no one to talk to and as you rightly said the nights are so empty.

“I don’t go to cricket anymore — I can no longer tolerate the press, TV or autograph hunters who won’t leave me alone when I appear in public so really I am living the life of a recluse. Thank heavens there is TV otherwise I would have nothing to occupy my mind.”

Bradman on rebel tour to apartheid South Africa

Australian cricket’s period of upheaval in the 1980s is well documented, with Kerry Packer starting World Series Cricket and Australian players including former captain Kim Hughes going to play in a rebel tour in apartheid South Africa.

“Since I last wrote, the cricket world has been in a ferment,” Bradman said to Brough, an English entertainer who he met during his tours of England.

“What with players signing for England and South Africa and Packer separately signing players, goodness knows where it will end. I don’t blame the players.

Bradman’s average of 99.94 is the most famous stat in cricket.

“One I know has been out of work for two years and to see a fair of $200,000 for two years was too good to turn down.

“Of course the whole thing hinges on dirty rotten politics. Our government freely trades with South Africa and it is total hypocrisy for them to prevent sporting contacts.

“The ‘black’ countries will never agree to re-admit South Africa and the final answer is a total split between the blacks and the whites.”

After Keating was elected as Prime Minister in 1993, Bradman said: “Keating is a disaster. He keeps pushing for a republic. It will come one day but at present the feeling for a change would be evenly balanced.”

The letters come two years after it emerged Bradman had sent then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser a letter two days after the 1975 dismissal election, urging the new PM to scrap regulations on capital and warning of the risks inflation poses to Australia.

Don Bradman in an ice cream ad for Peters.

Bradman’s love for Warne

An admirer of legspinners including Richie Benaud and Bill O’Reilly, the new letters reveal Bradman was immediately enamoured with Warne when he debuted for Australia in the early 90s.

“The great tragedy of modern cricket is the demise of the slow leg-spinner,” he wrote.

“Primarily it seems to be due to the one-day games in which ‘economy’ is the only thing that matters.

Bradman wrote in 1993: “But thankfully we may at last have produced a good leg spinner in young Warne. He’s only 23 and really spins the ball. I am impressed by his accuracy. In the Test versus New Zealand now being played he is conceding less than two runs an over which is tremendous. He should do well in England.”

Cricketers Sachin Tendulkar & Shane Warne chat after the passing of Sir Donald Bradman. Photo: Phil Hillyard.

Bradman famously met Warne and India’s Sachin Tendulkar at his home when both players were at the peak of their powers.

Before Australia’s tour of India in 1998, he wrote: “Our boys go to India this week and they will be sorely (tested) under home conditions. Tendulkar is probably the best bat in the world and his battles with Warne should be fascinating.”

Earlier this month, a baggy green cap worn by Bradman sold for $390,000 at auction.

Auction house Bonhams said Bradman wore the cap during India’s 1947-48 tour of Australia, his last Test series on home soil.

The Australian Sport Hall of Fame’s prestigious Don Award was introduced in 1998 given to the nation’s top athlete of the year, is named in his honour.