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Media Release – 25 October 2011

The hallowed turf of the Sydney Cricket Ground will come alive with excitement and anticipation as Sydney’s signature cricket dinner, The Bradman Foundation Gala, gets underway this Wednesday 26th October.

The Gala Dinner, which is sponsored by the Macquarie Group, honours past and present cricketers who embody the Bradman values of courage, honour, humility, integrity and determination. Bradman Foundation Patron Richie Benaud OBE will introduce the 2011 Bradman Honourees, former Australian Captain and Coach Bob Simpson AO and international Honouree Sir Richard Hadlee, arguably New Zealand’s finest cricketer!

Bob Simpson holds a unique place in Australian cricket succeeding as a player, captain, selector and coach over a career spanning five decades.

Simpson is one of only 21 players in the history of cricket to have scored a triple Test century. He is also one of the finest slip fieldsmen of all time and has taken 71 Test wickets with his probing leg-spin deliveries. He’s risen to the challenge of restoring pride to Australian cricket not once, but twice separately as a captain and also as national coach.

Richard Hadlee is New Zealand’s greatest player and one of the world’s best all-rounders of any era.

As an opening bowler, his clinical ‘stump to stump line, high flowing action, superb follow through, and unwavering concentration defined his play . In contrast, his batting depended not on a carefully developed technique, but on a brilliant eye and natural timing. He swung the bat generously and regularly chanced aerial shots. Such was his power, that aerial hits always represented a reasonable risk.

Sir Richard Hadlee and Bob Simpson will be available for interviews by appointment on Wednesday 26 October from 5 pm – 6pm at the Sydney Cricket Ground.