Jerzy Czezwieki pictured during the 1932-33 (Bodyline) Test series with England.

Jerzy Czezwieki (born Warsaw, Poland 1896, died December 12th 1956) was the most successful of a crop of Donald Bradman impersonators, popular on the cabaret circuit in 1930s Australia. His act never translated into success outside his adopted Australia, although he made many attempts to crack England, in particular. Many historians believe that, on many occasions, he substituted for The Don, in both a social and professional basis, although the Australian Cricket Board have always denied his participation in the notorious "Bodyline" Test series.

A Polish immigrant, the young Czezwieki, was hindered in his early years by his heavy Polish accent, but he soon mastered a sizeable range of Australian slang and common phrases, a skill that would form the basis of his cabaret act in the years to come. However, it was his remarkable likeness to, the then up and coming Golden Boy of Australian cricket, Donald Bradman, that gave Jerzy his unlikely shot at fame.

When the young Don Bradman was too ill to attend a dinner given in honour of the New South Wales state side, Czezwieki was asked to stand in and managed to convince the high profile guests present, (restricting himself to "G'day mate" and "Fair Dinkum" in conversations) that he was Bradman and an amiable chap to boot. Many observers have remarked that Czezwieki, as Bradman, was far more interesting than the real thing.

His career (he was billed as "Don Badman") took off. He was a fixture on many radio broadcasts and appeared in newspapers and magazines on an almost weekly basis. His cabaret act (consisting mainly of sketches involving Czezwieki meeting the worlds rich and famous and hailing them with his stock catchphrases, "G'day mate", "Fair dinkum" and "Strewth, cobber") was a great but short lived success. His greatest moment came during the infamous "Bodyline" series in the Australian summer of 1932-33. (Editor's note: the following events are disputed by the parties involved.)

Fearing for the greatest cricketer in the worlds safety against Douglas Jardine's dangerous leg theory variation, the Australian Cricket Board decided to rest The Don for the series but it was felt that the public would be outraged by the apparent cowardice in the face of the old enemy. So, instead, the ACB charged Czezwieki with the role of fulfilling Bradman's engagements during the series including playing (the ACB believed that non-cricketer Czezwieki would be seriously injured allowing Bradman to be withdrawn from the remaining Test matches).

Remarkably, Czezwieki developed his own technique for combating Bodyline and he averaged 56.57 for the series. An embarrassed ACB ensured a blacklist against Czezwieki and ridiculed his claims about the Bodyline series. Career ruined, Czezwieki made a few unfortunate forays into pornography, including a role in an 8mm short movie "Debbie Does Bradman". He died penniless.