Sir Donald George `` Don '' Bradman , AC ( 27 August 1908 -- 25 February 2001 ) , often referred to as `` The Don '' , was an Australian cricketer , widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time . Bradman 's career Test batting average of 99.94 is often cited as the greatest achievement by any sportsman in any major sport . Bradman 's meteoric rise from bush cricket to the Australian Test team took just over two years . Even after he became reclusive in his declining years his opinion was highly sought , and his status as a national icon was still recognised -- more than 50 years after his retirement as a Test player , in 2001 , Prime Minister John Howard of Australia called him the `` greatest living Australian '' . A test or examination ( informally , exam or evaluation ) is an assessment intended to measure a test-taker 's knowledge , skill , aptitude , physical fitness , or classification in many other topics ( e.g. , beliefs ) .
Don Bradman was a Test player.