''I thought, 'God, strike me.' That would be the equivalent of Field Marshal Montgomery calling his colonels together on the night before the battle of El Alamein and saying: 'Well boys, we've got Rommel tomorrow at El Alamein. Do it your way and I'll see you at the finish'.''

Ponting has spent three weeks researching Bradman's life and career for his speech. He was struck by the scale of achievements and noted they transcended cricket to the point where Bradman's name could be applied to dominant forces in other fields.

''They talk about someone being the Don Bradman of Aussie rules, they equate other superstars in other sports to being somewhere near him, which is pretty remarkable,'' Ponting said.

''Is there anyone who's ever played any sport who's been able to achieve that level of greatness?

''What would the Olympic equivalent be? Throwing the javelin 25m further than the next guy? It would be a fairly dramatic increase on current records if you compared it to an Olympic sport.''

Previous presenters of the Bradman Oration include former prime minister John Howard, broadcaster Alan Jones, interviewer Michael Parkinson, cricket legend Richie Benaud and General Peter Cosgrove.

Ponting plans not to retell the legend, but discuss his own passion for cricket and the legacy Bradman left. That's something Ponting can still recall, when, as a 15-year-old, he met Bradman while at the Australian cricket academy in Adelaide.

''It was an amazing experience,'' he said. ''The first thing that struck you was his stature. He was quite a short, little guy and very quietly spoken.

''But everyone in that room was in awe and everyone was sitting on the edge of their seat taking in everything he would say.''

Australia's most recent Test player, wrist spinner Beau Casson, never met Bradman.

But as a cricket lover ''I eat up as much as I can'' he was thrilled when he played for the national under-19 team at Adelaide Oval, knowing Sir Donald loved the ground and lived nearby.

Casson can recall poring over Bradman's career statistics, and also the archived addresses, which struck a chord.

''I can remember just hearing his old interviews [recorded] before I was alive and hearing him play and as a public speaker,'' he said.

''He was a great pusher and a great lover of cricket.''

Bradman, who passed away in 2001, was born in Cootamundra on August 27, 1908.

Today in Cootamundra, Bradman's grandson Tom will open the town's Captains Walk, a collection of sculptures of the men who have captained Australia.

Bowral will mark The Don's birth centenary by unveiling a plaque at the school he attended, before students assemble on the oval outside the Bradman Museum to sing Happy Birthday. AAP