Bradman, written by A. G. Moyes, is one of the earliest and most significant post-war biographies of Donald Bradman, published in the year of Bradman’s retirement from Test cricket. Issued by Angus & Robertson in Sydney in 1948, the book appeared at a pivotal moment, capturing Bradman’s career in near-contemporary context rather than retrospective legend.
Moyes was uniquely placed to write this biography. As a respected cricket administrator and selector who played a role in Bradman’s rise into state cricket, Moyes combined close personal knowledge with authoritative insight. The result is an intimate yet balanced portrait of Bradman as both cricketer and man — tracing his journey from childhood in Bowral, through his early dominance in Australian cricket, to his defining performances for Australia on the world stage.
The book covers Bradman’s greatest achievements in detail, including the Ashes contests, his record-breaking run-scoring feats, and the turbulent Bodyline series, which shaped both his career and the history of Test cricket. Moyes also explores Bradman’s batting technique, temperament, and famously unorthodox grip, offering contemporary analysis of the qualities that set him apart from every other batsman of his era.
As a first-edition biography published at the close of Bradman’s playing career, Bradman occupies a special place in cricket literature. It is valued not only for its historical proximity to the events it describes, but also for its insight into how Bradman was viewed during his lifetime — before myth and nostalgia fully took hold.
