He represented the future - the great hope that would guide the country to unprecedented success in Test cricket.

All Australians have grown up with his aura.

Most people thought or think they knew him - even the younger generation who grew up 30 or 40 years after he last picked up a bat in 1949.

But you only need to look at his record to realise why he was held in such high regard by the entire cricketing world.

No modern cricketer can hold a light to his 99.94 Test average.

But even after he retired from the game, he still held enormous influence as an administrator.

Staunch traditionalist

Twice he was chairman of the Australian Cricket Board and he also proved to be a prudent chairman of the selectors, providing inspiration to future captains like Ian Chappell through to Allan Border.

He was keen to talk to people who wanted to seek out his advice, he always made himself available to give help to the people who asked for it.

But one thing Don absolutely detested was the side of the game that has suddenly become fashionable - ungentlemenly conduct.

He was a staunch traditionalist - cricket to him was on a higher plane - and when the Packer years of the late 1970s split the game, it broke his heart.