The cricketing world remembers Sir Donald Bradman with awe

By Nandini Kochar
CNN Correspondent

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- Recognized as the world's greatest cricketer while he lived, Sir Donald Bradman, who died peacefully in his sleep at his home, is being mourned throughout the cricket-playing world as one of the greatest Australians who ever lived.

In India, where cricket is a national passion, Sir Donald is remembered for what he did best -- destroy the bowling attacks of opposing teams. Sir Donald had a batting average of 99: 94.

One of the handful of cricketers who has been compared to Sir Donald, India's cricketing hero Sachin Tendulkar, has a batting average roughly half that of the great maestro. Tendulkar says it's unfair to compare anyone with Sir Donald. "Whatever he (Sir Don) has achieved is always a dream for other batsmen. They want to be like him, but it's probably impossible to get there."

Tendulkar was one of the few modern-day cricketers to meet with the reclusive Sir Don. He met with Bradman on his 90th birthday, and Tendulkar says the tips Sir Donald gave him about batting are something he will always treasure. "When someone like Sir Don speaks about batting, you listen very carefully," the Indian cricketer said.

Also stunned by his death was the Australian cricket team, which is touring India for a test and one-day series that starts February 27.

The visiting captain of the Australian team Steve Waugh described Sir Don as a "once in a lifetime cricketer." He said his team will always be inspired by he way he played the game.

Waugh said in his only meeting with the legend, Sir Don was "very humble about his achievements and wanted to see himself as a normal person. That's humility. It's something we can all learn from."

Others who have known Sir Donald also describe him as a humble man. Bishen Singh Bedi, India former captain who kept in touch with Sir Donald, called him Mr. Cricket for the last century.

"If you were to pick one man, the most outstanding cricketer of the century, it would be Sir Donald Bradman," Singh Bedi said.

At the National stadium in New Delhi where the Delhi team was practicing, Vijay Dhaiya, a young cricketer and former wicket keeper of the Indian team, felt it was inappropriate for him to even discuss the greatest man of the game.

His other colleagues, practicing with him wished they could have seen him play.

Fifty-three years after Sir Donald last walked on to a cricket pitch, his legacy lives on throughout the world.

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The Legend of Sir Donald Bradman
Vale Sir Donald Bradman

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