Yet showcasing how cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, Bradman was bowled by a modest leg-spinner Eric Hollies for a duck, widely considered the most famous duck of all time. It brought to an unexpected end the glorious international career of Sir Donald George Bradman: 52 Tests, 6996 runs, 29 centuries with an incredible average of 99.94.
Along with these astonishing statistics was his becoming a hero to hordes of people in his own country during the time of the Great Depression which took place in the 1920s. In a game that had previously been defined by English heroes like WG Grace and Jack Hobbs, the Australian Bradman went on to redefine the art and meaning of batting.
65 years since that famous duck at the Oval, the scene shifted last week to Wankhede Stadium at Mumbai. Sachin Tendulkar, the most famous cricketer to have graced the game since the Don, walked into the sunset after a brilliant 24 year career.
He almost had a fairytale swansong looking good for a century in his final innings, yet in much the same way as Bradman, his career was brought to an end by the unlikely figure of a part-time off spinner Narsingh Deonarine after a terrific knock of 74.
Much like Bradman, he held a nation together except that he had to carry the expectations of a country of more than a billion people. Unlike Sir Don, he was accorded a farewell in front of his home fans in the city where he was born and grew up.
There have been many surveys to compare the greatness of the two men. A poll conducted in 2010 by Sydney Morning Herald saw 84% of voters regard Sachin as the greater player.
This poll was conducted a few days after Sachin scored his 49th Test century, a brilliant 214 at the Bangalore Test against Australia.
While comparing cricketers from eras that are so wide apart might be unfair, the best compliment Sachin could have received was when Sir Don said Sachin's batting style reminded him of his own. It was a hugely significant moment to see the two men together at Sir Don's Adelaide home in 1998 on the occasion of his 90th birthday.
The big question now is what will cricket be without Sachin? Surely there will be an emptiness across homes in India because for 24 years he was visually a constant habit. Whenever a great sportsperson moves on, you feel a void.
It happened when Bradman left the game, it happened when Michael Schumacher quit F1 and it will happen when Roger Federer quits Tennis. Thankfully, Indian cricket is in a better place than it was 14-15 years ago when Sachin was the sole messiah. Now the Indian cricket team is sounder.
To draw a comparison with Bradman and his retirement , while it would have been impossible for another Bradman to emerge, like it may be with Sachin, there were a few members of that 1948 Invincibles tour of England who went on to have strong international careers such as Keith Miller, Ray Lindwall and Neil Harvey.
Similarly, while it would be difficult to contend that anyone in the current team can become another Sachin, (you need to play 24 years and score 30,000 international runs), there is enough hope that players such as Virat Kohli, Cheteswar Pujara and Rohit Sharma, along with more established hands like MS Dhoni, are there to take the legacy forward.
Sachin's retirement will indeed be a historic moment for the game, in much the same way as Bradman's was 65 years back. Both are hugely iconic cricketers who went on to have an impact which transcended cricket.
The legend of Bradman lives on even today not just in his own country but across the world. It won't be wrong to say that when the clock moves on into the future, the name of Sachin will be uttered in similar hallowed tones.
The author is a sports professional
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