Rare Bradman bust for ICC Cricket World Cup 2003

A rare bronze bust of the late Sir Donald Bradman will go on auction for charity during Charity Banquets held in South Africa during the ICC Cricket World Cup in February 2003.

The bust, one of only seven in the world and valued at R 150,000 was among memorabilia of the great Australian cricketer presented to Dr Ali Bacher, executive director of Cricket World Cup 2003, by Mark Tregoning, the Adelaide-based Chief Executive of Bradman's Walk to Glory programme.

This is the third installment of Bradman and Australian cricket artworks valued at almost R2 million which will be auctioned to help establish turf cricket ovals in previously disadvantaged areas of South Africa. Two of the ovals will carry the Bradman name.

At the handing over ceremony, which coincided with the 200 days to go milestone to the opening match next February, Mr. Tregoning, in addition to the artwork, handed Mr. Joe Pamensky, the South African patron of Bradman's Walk to Glory programme, a cheque for R 37,000 for financial support secured from Rand Merchant Bank. Anglo Vaal Mining has also contributed to the construction of the Bradman ovals.

Among the 16 individual items handed over was a rare set of Bradman commemorative coins donated by the Perth Mint, whose chief executive officer in the former South African provincial cricketer Don Mackay-Coghill.

Cornerstone of the Bradman programme is a magnificent oil painting of Sir Donald striding onto the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1937 on his way to scoring a double century against England that has been voted by Wisden as the greatest Test innings ever played.

Four replicas of this painting have previously been donated to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 by the Bradman Walk to Glory programme.

Mr. Tregoning said: "We are honoured to be party to the announcement by Dr Bacher that the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 wished to leave a legacy of a number of ovals in disadvantaged areas to assist young South African cricketers. We look forward to one and possibly two of these ovals being formally designated as Bradman ovals".

In accepting the memorabilia, Dr Bacher said: "I'd like to say again that it is truly a great honour that the name of Sir Donald Bradman is being perpetrated in South Africa through the ICC World Cup. The legacy of the World Cup is to leave 50 turf cricket ovals in the previously disadvantaged areas and the money raised through Bradman's Walk to Glory programme will enable us to meet this commitment".

The four Charity Banquets, to be hosted individually by Mike Coward (Australia), Ravi Shastri (India), Tony Cozier (West Indies) and Gerald de Kock (South Africa) will be held during the early part of the World Cup. Entertainment will be light, fun debates about cricket and hosted cricketers will participate to create an interesting ambience.

Pretoria Show Grounds will be the first venue where Australia will be the host team. This will take place on Thursday 13th February 2003.

Monday 17th February will see Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Canada host the evening in Cape Town at the Belville Velodrome.

The Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg will be the venue on Tuesday 18th February when South Africa, Bangladesh and West Indies will be the host teams.

The final venue, on Monday 24th February, is the Internal Convention Centre in Durban where England, India and Namibia will be host nations.

Tables for the dinners will be sold to companies and interested parties. Funds raised from the sale of tables will be donated to charity.