Don Bradman ( 27 August 1908 â `` 25 February 2001 ) , often called The Don , was an Australian man who played cricket . He was a batsman . Sir Donald George Bradman , AC ( 27 August 1908 â `` 25 February 2001 ) , often referred to as The Don , was an Australian cricketer , widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time .