The legendary Australian leg-spinner, Shane Warne’s “baggy green” cap sold at auction for more than Aus$1 million (nearly $700,000) Friday, with all funds going to help victims of bushfires in the country. He wore the cap during his 145-Test career, in which he took more than 700 wickets, and said he was blown away after a late bidding war pushed the price to Aus$1,007,500.
It far exceeded the Aus$425,000 paid at auction for the cap belonging to the legendary Donald Bradman when that was sold for charity in 2003.
Thanking is supporters for raising such money, taking to Instagram, Warne said, “Thank you so much to everyone that placed a bid & a huge Thank you/ congrats to the successful bidder – you have blown me away with your generosity and this was way beyond my expectations. The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.”
The item comes with an autographed certificate of authenticity from Warne. The identity of the successful bidder was not immediately known. The Australian cricketers receive the “baggy green” when they make their Test debut and is worn as a badge of pride. Warne decided to auction it on Monday to help those who have suffered in the catastrophic fires that have devastated parts of the country and left at least 26 people dead and almost 2,000 homes destroyed.
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Opening the bids, Warne wrote: “The horrific bushfires in Australia have left us all in disbelief. The impact these devastating fires are having on so many people is unthinkable and has touched us all. Everyone is in this together and we continue to find ways to contribute and help on a daily basis.”
Sports stars from around the world have stumped up memorabilia and cash to help pay for relief efforts in Australia’s unprecedented bushfire emergency.
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Warne’s fellow cricketers Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, and D’Arcy Short have also pledged to donate Aus$250 for every six they smash during the ongoing season of the Big Bash League (BBL).
