The death of Sir Donald Bradman at the weekend not only robbed the cricket world of its greatest batsman but it also severed a strong link between Yorkshire and Australia.
On no other Test ground in England did Bradman milk runs so extravagantly as at Headingley, where he twice plundered triple Test centuries on his way to an aggregate of 963 runs in four matches between 1930-48 at an astonishing average of 192.60.
Bradman won the hearts and the admiration of cricket followers around the county and as a token of the respect in which he was held Yorkshire made him an honorary vice-president of the club in 1983 - an honour he was delighted to accept.
Four of Bradman's Test centuries against England were made at Headingley, starting with his 334 in 1930 when he batted for 536 minutes, scoring 105 before lunch, advancing to 220 by tea and closing the first day on 309.
In 1934, Bradman thrashed 304 at Headingley, in 1938 he 'failed' with only 103 and in 1948 he bid farewell to Leeds with an unbeaten 173 with 29 boundaries.
Towards the end of that 1948 tour, Bradman also made his last appearance in England on a Yorkshire ground, turning out for the Australians against H D G Leveson Gower's XI at Scarborough.
Thousands of spectators packed North Marine Road on each of the three rain-hit days of the match to get a final glimpse of the batting maestro and they were rewarded with a brilliant 153 in 190 minutes with 19 fours and two sixes before he holed out to Len Hutton at cover point off Alec Bedser.
It was the second time that Bradman had thrilled the Scarborough crowds for 14 years earlier, in a similar fixture at the festival, he had hit 132.
In advancing down the pitch to Hedley Verity he was then stumped by George Duckworth.
Bradman invariably made runs for the Australians against Yorkshire at Sheffield but the fans at Bradford Park Avenue were never able to witness his genius.
His only appearance on the ground was in 1930 when he fell lbw to Emmott Robinson for only one.
Updated: 12:46 Tuesday, February 27, 2001
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