Hussain: Bradman created a legend

Nasser Hussain today paid a simple but perfect tribute to Sir Donald Bradman, the greatest cricketer of all time, who died last night.

"He was a legend and he created a legend," said England's captain shortly before start of play on the final morning of the first Test against Sri Lanka here in Galle.

Hussain and his team-mates were told of The Don's death in Adelaide, at the age of 92, as they assembled for breakfast.

"Talking about how he would have adapted in this or other eras is all guesswork," added the captain.

"What is indisputable is that he was a great player and what he's left to the game will remain for a lot longer than any discussion about how he would have coped with Muttiah Muralitharan or played against Wasim Akram."

Bradman's Test average of 99.94 is nearly 40 runs higher than anyone else who has played the game at top level for any length of time.

In 52 matches he scored 6,996 runs, with 29 centuries and, but for making a duck in his last innings - against England - would have averaged 100-plus.

England's players and officials and their Sri Lankan counterparts lined up for two minutes' silence just before start of play this morning.

Mike Atherton and Graham Thorpe, the two not out batsmen, were excused but they still paid their respects by standing in the visitors' dressing room.

"It's a sad day for everyone but especially all Australians and our thoughts to go out to their team in India, where they are about to start a Test," said Hussain.

"There will be many discussions about The Don's record but what is beyond dispute is the fact that he was a great player in his era and, generally, people like that will be great players at any time.

"I think it will be difficult for anyone to average 99 in Tests now or in the future. The quality of bowling is so much better now. But all those points are irrelevant. A great man has died and we as a team want to acknowledge that.

"The last of the great players of his time has now gone and, rather than talk about statistics, we want to acknowledge him and then get on with trying to make this a better game."

Bradman will be given a private funeral in accordance with his final wishes, his family said today. Bradman's only son, John, said his father had asked to be privately cremated but a memorial service for the public would be held in about two weeks' time.

Bradman was born at Cootamundra in southern New South Wales on 27 August, 1908 but grew up in the southern highlands town of Bowral, about 60 miles south west of Sydney.

His wife, Jessie Menzies, whom he married in 1932, died in 1997. The couple had two children, John and Shirley, and Bradman had three grandchildren - Greta, Tom and Nicholas.

The private funeral service and cremation will be held in Adelaide, likely later this week and the public memorial service will also in Adelaide, at St. Peter's Cathedral.

The New South Wales state government announced that on the day of Bradman's funeral the flag on top of Sydney Harbour Bridge will be flown at half mast.

In Canberra, Prime Minister John Howard said he had visited Bradman a week ago in Adelaide.

"It was always going to be a shock when Don Bradman died because he has really been the most dominant figure in Australian life now for decades," he said. "But he was very ill."

Former England Test bowler Fred Trueman said Bradman was "possibly the greatest batsman who ever lived."

He then added: "I found him to be a very nice man and when I went to Australia I used to go and see him and became very friendly with him."