Two months after his disappointing Test debut at Brisbane, Don Bradman made 340 not out for New South Wales against Victoria at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 1929 — at the time the highest individual score made at the SCG, and a single innings that doubled his Test team's confidence in him.
Bradman had failed twice at Brisbane (18 and 1) in his Test debut. The selectors dropped him for the second Test at Sydney; he was 12th man for that match. The third Test was at Melbourne in late December — and the Sydney 340* came in the brief Sheffield Shield gap between the second and third Tests.
Bradman had been dropped after the first Test of the 1928-29 Ashes. Returning to Sheffield Shield duty for NSW in early January, he came in against Victoria — Ponsford, Ryder, Woodfull and the off-spin of Don Blackie all in opposition — and proceeded to make a chanceless 340 not out in 488 minutes, with 38 fours.
The Victorian attack was the strongest in Sheffield Shield cricket. Bradman's innings included a stand of 297 with Alan Kippax for the third wicket; he was missed only once, on 280, and his only false stroke was a slash high over slip on 312 that fell safely. The 340* was the highest individual score ever made at the SCG, beating Reggie Duff's 271 of 1903.
The selectors had no choice but to recall him for the third Test at Melbourne, where he made 79 and 112 — his first Test hundred. The 340* at Sydney is the innings that, in retrospect, marked the moment when Bradman's first-class career achieved escape velocity from the rest of Australian batting.
Bradman dropped from second Test; returns to NSW
Walks in against Victoria's bowling on day 2 at SCG
Stand of 297 with Kippax for the third wicket
Missed only once at 280; false stroke at 312 falls safe
Out 340* — highest individual score at SCG
9 Jan 1929
NSW v Victoria begins at SCG
10 Jan 1929
Bradman comes in late on day 2
11 Jan 1929
Reaches 340* in 488 minutes; declared out
Late Dec 1928
Recalled for third Test at Melbourne
“I felt the bowling was below the standard I had faced at Brisbane. The pitch was slow but true and the field was patient.”
Bradman was recalled for the third Test at Melbourne. He scored 79 and 112 — his maiden Test hundred. He went on to score 468 runs in the rest of the series. The 340* stood as his highest first-class score until 452* in January 1930 (vs Queensland).
Bradman's 340* at Sydney was the innings that converted his sceptical selectors and turned a dropped 20-year-old into a Test centurion within four weeks.
The 340* was Bradman's first major statement at first-class level. The 452* against Queensland 13 months later — still the highest score in Sheffield Shield history — completed a 13-month sequence in which he scored more runs than any cricketer in any equivalent period before or since.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.