MELBOURNE: The auction of former Australia leg spinner Shane Warne’s baggy green cap towards relief efforts for those affected by the bushfires ravaging the country crossed the magic A$1 million mark when bidding closed Friday.
At a final bid price of A$1,007,500 ($692107), the cricket legend’s cap has become the most valuable cricket memorabilia in history by a long mile. After the leggie made the announcement that he would be auctioning off his iconic cap to help those who have been affected by devastating bushfires in Australia, the bidding war went through the roof and bids reached A$275,000 in just two hours.
When bidding closed on Friday morning, the famous cap was sold to ‘M.C. from Sydney’, according to the auction house’s website.
‘M.C.’, whose identity has yet to be revealed, went head-to-head with ‘W.C. from Gordon’ in the final stages of the auction, abc.net reports.
Proceeds from the auction of Warne’s cap, which comes with an autographed certificate of authenticity, will go to the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal.
“Thank you so much to everyone that placed a bid and a huge thank you/congrats to the successful bidder — you have blown me away with your generosity and this was way beyond my expectations!” Warne posted on his official Twitter handle.
“The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
The figure is more than twice the amount one of Don Bradman’s baggy greens made in 2003.
Bidding on Warne’s cap reached $1 million two minutes before the original 10:00am deadline, abc.net further reports.
The auction was extended for almost 10 minutes because of a late flurry of bids.
Soon after the bidding closed, speculation then turned to who the winning bidder “MC” could be. It was soon revealed by Cricket Australia’s digital platform cricket.com.au that it was Matt Comyn, CEO of Commonwealth Bank of Australia, who had bought Warne’s Test cap.
“I am delighted that CBA has been able to secure Warne’s cherished Baggy Green cap,” Comyn said in a statement. Comyn further stated that the cap will be taken on a tour across Australia to raise more funds for the bushfire relief efforts.
The baggy green is presented to Australian players when they make their Test debut.
The most expensive cricket accessories ever sold at an auction with their auction price:
1. Don Bradman’s Test cap worn by him in his last Test – £170,000 in 2003
2. MS Dhoni’s match-winning bat from the 2011 WC final – £100,000 in 2011
3. Complete set of John Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanacks – £84,000 in 2008
4. Gary Sobers’ bat to hit 6 sixes – £54,257 in 2000
5. Sobers’ bat with which he hit 365* against Pakistan – £47,475 in 2000
