The maestro's portrait titled Bradman's Walk To Glory that will be on display till Friday.

June 24: Melbourne, January 4, 1937. Australia, down 2-0, were staring at another defeat and a lost series against England in the third Test. On the third day, in walks the new Australian skipper, Donald Bradman, with the hopes of a nation resting on his shoulder.

Bradman went on to make 270, considered by many as one of the greatest Test innings ever played, and turned the series around for his country. Australia won the third and the next two Tests to regain the Ashes.

As Bradman walked down the stairs of the Melbourne Cricket Ground dressing room, there was a steely resolve in his eyes. Determination caused a slight wrinkle on his forehead, and the walk was that of a man possessed. Yet, he looked calm and composed.

English cricket historian HS Altham wrote in 1941: ``In the many pictures that I have stored in my mind, there is none more dominant or compelling than that of Bradman's small, serenely moving figure in its big peaked cap, coming out of the pavilion shadows into the sunshine, with the concentration, ardour and apprehension of the surrounding thousands centred upon him and the destiny of a Test match in his hands.''

That walk which ended in England's doom, has now been captured in oil by the famous English-born artiste, Colin Dudley, and framed in a 4"x3" brass plaque. Named `Bradman's Walk to Glory', the portrait will be unveiled at the Wankhede Stadium by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mumbai will become the third stop of the painting, which is valued at one million Australian dollars (approx. Rs 2.8 crore). The two earlier stops being the long rooms of Melbourne Cricket Ground (May 28) and Lord's in England (June 20).

Mark Tregoning, project director and the man representing Sir Donald Bradman for the ceremony, will speak on behalf of `The Don', who could not make the long journey at the age of 88.

``When Mumbai invited us for `Bradman walk'the unveiling, Sir Donald told me, `It's an honour','' said Tregoning.

``It all started when I met Phil Ridings, a teammate of Sir Donald, who later became the chairperson of the Australian Cricket Board,'' Tregoning, an executive director of Wheelchair Sports, a non-profit organisation and the governing body for the 13 international wheelchair events in Australia, said.

``He introduced me to Sir Donald and soon we were discussing how he can help us and perpetuate the game of cricket at the same time.''

Along with Wheelchair Sports President Richard Oliver, Tregoning held a series of meeting with Sir Bradman which culminated into the Bradman's Walk of Glory.

``We went through a number of old black and white photographs, and finally decided this was the way Sir Donald would like to be remembered. Colin (Dudley) was commissioned and he did a lot of research before coming out with this.

"Sir Donald was involved in every stage of the project, right from the photo selection to the contents of the brochure,'' Tregoning added.

While the original portrait will be flown back to Australia by Friday, Mumbai Cricket Association will be handed a miniaturised version, signed by the great man himself.

Ninety-nine limited edition masterpieces of the painting, autographed and numbered by Sir Donald himself will be up for sale throughout the world. India and the sub-continent get 30 of these, while the rest is to be sold in Australia and England. The limited edition masterpieces are the actual size of the original portrait and valued at A$ 20,000 (Rs. 5,60,000 approximately). It will be provided in a magnificent brass inscribed archive quality frame. The original portrait is not for immediate sale.

The proceeds from these sales will go to the Wheelchair Sports and the Bradman Museum Trust, a project which is very close to Bradman's heart.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.