In his first match for St George in the 1928-29 season, Bradman scored 107 against Gordon, followed by 131 and 133 not out, for NSW against Queensland. Growing in confidence, he scored 87 and 132 not out, against the visiting English MCC side, in front of a capacity crowd at the SCG.

Called up for the First Test against England, Bradman became the first St George cricketer to represent his country, but scored only 18 and 1, on a sticky wicket. Needless to say, he was dropped for the Second Test but after batting 71 for NSW against Victoria, he was promptly recalled to the Third Test team, hitting 79 and a magnificent 112. News of Bradman's century, the second ever by an Australian under 25, created pandemonium from Martin Place to Hurstville and beyond.

In the city, "thousands of hats were joyously tossed in the air. Women waved handkerchiefs and umbrellas. Motor-cars opened their throttles with mighty honks. People on passing trains cheered and clapped their hands. Tram bells clanged." Almost overnight, Bradman had become a force in international cricket. Adding to his success, in the next match against Victoria, "the Don" scored 340 not out - at that time the highest score in a first class match at the SCG.

With England leading 4-0 in the Ashes Series, both Bradman and St George teammate, Alan Fairfax, were chosen for the Fifth Test in Melbourne. Both helped steer Australia to its first victory - Bradman scoring 123 while partnering Fairfax, who scored 65 in the first innings. The St George district honoured the occasion with a dinner of past and present players at Hurstville on 13th April 1929. Bradman received a gold fountain pen and Fairfax, a shaving kit. A joint Bradman-Fairfax testimonial fund was well-supported by the district, with Bradman badges sold for one shilling each.

The young cricketer finished the season with a dashing 175 against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, amassing a record 1,690 runs in first class cricket for the year, at an average of 93.88. In Sheffield Shield alone, he averaged 148.83 and helped NSW win the Shield - a triumph for State Selector, Dick Jones of St George.

With Bradman and Fairfax now regulars in first class fixtures, the St George team moved up to third in the first grade competition, and second in the club championship. Bradman still topped the club averages with 65.25. In a charity match at Hurstville Oval between St George and a NSW side, captained by Alan Kippax, 50 pounds were raised for the St George Hospital, with Bradman hitting a quick 61.

With the residential rule still firmly in force, the question of remaining in the district prompted Dick Jones to keep their young star player "qualified" for the club. Bradman was moved into Ellimatta, the home of Frank Cush and his family, at 172 Frederick Street, Rockdale. Cush was the St George DCC's Honorary Secretary and Bradman was to stay at Ellimatta with the Cush family until his marriage to Jessie Menzies in April 1932.

The very first Don Bradman Sykes bat ever made was used by Bradman himself a few weeks into the 1929-30 season, when he scored 187 runs against Randwick - a record score for St George DCC. Crowds were flocking to Hurstville Oval and to whichever grounds Bradman played.

At Ellimatta, Don would amuse the younger Cush children by throwing peanuts in the air and catching them in his mouth and by his habit of eating bread with butter and sugar. "Don was always quite confident about doing well," Neville Cush told the St George Leader in 1996. 29 "I remember at the dinner table he told us he was going to break the world batting record. He had a double century and sure enough he reached 452."

Don Bradman in the garden behind Ellimatta, showing the strength of purpose and tenacity that he displayed against the visiting English team in 1929