AUSTRALIAN cricket legend Shane Warne’s baggy green cap has made more than $1 million at auction to aid those affected by bushfires.
When bidding closed on Friday morning (AEDT), the famous cap was sold for $1,007,500 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.
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READ NOWProceeds from the auction will go to the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal.
One of Wisden’s five cricketers of the century, Warne played 145 Tests and claimed 708 wickets.
The 50-year-old is Test cricket’s second-most successful bowler behind Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan who took 800 wickets.
“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 social media.
“The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”
Warne is one of many local and international athletes throwing their support behind fundraising for bushfire victims.
Bidding on Warne’s cap reached $1 million two minutes before the original 10am deadline.
The auction was extended for almost 10 minutes because of a late flurry of bids.
The baggy green is presented to Australian players when they make their Test debut.
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