Think about all the famous sports personalities whose birthdays are widely celebrated each year, half a century after their retirement from their chosen sport. There's Don Bradman, and there's ... Don Bradman.

If this is a measure of greatness among sportspersons than Sir Donald Bradman is one of the true all-time greats of world sport.

Almost certainly the greatest single name in the history of cricket, and possibly the greatest single name in the history of Australian sport, Sir Donald celebrates his 91st birthday today.

Long retired from public life, Sir Donald will spend the day like any other birthday, at home in Adelaide quietly with his family. Special birthday functions will be held today in his honour at, among other places, Sydney, Adelaide, Cootamundra (where he was born) and Bowral (where he grew up, and where the Bradman Museum is located). As part of the Bradman Museum luncheon, the award of Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year will be made to Western Australian batsman Simon Katich, who will soon join the Australian Test team on its tour of Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

As the adulation of The Don refuses to subside with the passing of the years, a rather bizarre notion was floated in the media yesterday as a means of celebration. With Australians due to vote in November on the question of becoming a republic, a report in today's ``Sydney Morning Herald'' tells of the suggestion that the Queen's Birthday be replaced in a republican Australia with ``Don's Day'' - August 27.

For those recently back from lengthy intergalactic travel, Donald George Bradman, who was born on 27 August 1908, played 52 Tests for Australia between 1928 and 1948, scoring 6996 runs at an average of 99.94 - over fifty per cent better than any other batsman in the history of the game who scored 1000 or more Test runs. His 29 Test centuries represented a ratio better than one every three innings. He is the only batsman to score two Test triple centuries. After his retirement as a player in 1949 he continued to be involved with the game as a selector and administrator for another forty years.

We wish a very happy birthday to Sir Donald Bradman. 91 not out today. Send a birthday greeting.