Sir Donald Bradman’s test cricket batting average of 99.94 is a legendary statistic, unmatched in the history of the sport. While his career spanned only 52 test matches and 80 innings from 1928 to 1948, his performance continues to overshadow modern players who surpass his run and century counts. This article delves into a statistical comparison of Don Bradman’s achievements against other prominent figures in sports, highlighting his unparalleled dominance.
Bradman’s Unprecedented Batting Average
In over a century of test cricket, no one has come close to Bradman’s average. He stands almost 39 runs above the next highest average (among batsmen with more than 20 innings) and scored a century nearly every three innings. This remarkable consistency begs the question: how does this performance compare across other sports?
Bradman’s average rarely dipped below 90 after his initial 13 test innings. Even during the challenging “Bodyline” series in 1932-33, his average remained above 100 for most of the series. This graph illustrates his consistent performance across his career.
Quantifying Dominance: The Z-Score
To compare across disciplines, the Z-score provides a standardized measure of performance. Calculated as (individual performance – mean performance) / standard deviation, it indicates how many standard deviations an athlete’s performance is above the average for their sport. Analyzing the distribution of test batting averages for batsmen with over 2,000 runs reveals Bradman as a significant outlier.
With a mean average of 40.42 and a standard deviation of 9.19 for this group, Bradman’s 99.94 translates to a Z-score of 6.48. Even when compared to elite batsmen averaging over 50 with at least 1,000 runs, his Z-score remains around 5.4.
Bradman vs. Legends of Other Sports
Comparing Bradman’s Z-score with other sporting greats reveals the extent of his dominance. The following table presents Z-scores for prominent athletes in various disciplines:
| Athlete | Sport | Statistic | Comparator | Z-score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Bradman | Test Cricket | Batting Average | Batsmen with 2000+ runs | 6.48 |
| Jack Nicklaus | Golf | Major Wins | Players with 2+ Major wins | 5.02 |
| Just Fontaine | Football | Goals per Game | Scorers of 30+ international goals | 4.32 |
| Roger Federer | Tennis (Men’s) | Grand Slam Wins | Players with 2+ Grand Slam wins | 3.92 |
| Margaret Court | Tennis (Women’s) | Grand Slam Wins | Players with 2+ Grand Slam wins | 3.77 |
| Juan Manuel Fangio | Formula 1 | Races per Win | Drivers with 2+ Grand Prix wins | 3.81 |
| Dan Carter | Rugby Union | Points per Game | Players with 200+ points | 2.08 |
While Jack Nicklaus’s 18 major golf wins are impressive (Z-score of 5.02), Bradman’s performance remains statistically superior.
The Unfinished Century
Adding to the legend, Bradman was dismissed for a duck in his final innings. Had he scored just four more runs, his average would have reached a perfect 100. His 12 test double centuries remain the highest by any batsman, further solidifying his place in cricketing history. Don Bradman’s statistical dominance transcends cricket, setting a benchmark against which all sporting achievements can be measured. His impact on the sport remains unparalleled, solidifying his legacy as a true statistical anomaly in the world of sports.
