A treat is on its way for the people interested in buying and collecting cricket memorabilia. The latest piece up for auction is batting great Sir Donald Bradman's first-ever 'baggy green' Australia cap. The Australian cricketers who play Test cricket are awarded a cap on their debut, which is called the 'baggy green'.
Sir Donald Bradman made his Test debut in November 1928 against England at the Exhibition Ground in Brisbane. He later gave away the first-ever baggy green cap to his neighbour Peter Dunham in 1959.
Dunham, an accountant, was caught in fraud amounting to $1.3 million from investors. He served a jail term of 8 years and two months, as per reports of AAP.
The famous cap is now up for grabs at the Pickles Auctions, as some of his victims seeking access to the cap to help pay off his debts.
Pickles said in a statement, "In 1959, Sir Donald gifted the Baggy Green to his neighbour, Peter Dunham, whose house backed onto the Bradman's family home on the Parade in Kensington Gardens."
"The Baggy Green has been on loan to the State Library of South Australia since 2003 and has been authenticated by Mr Barry Gibbs (former manager of the State Library of South Australia's Bradman collection)," he added.
Way back in 2003, Sir Donald Bradman's last baggy green cap, which he used in 1948, was auctioned off for A$425,000. Another blazer, which was worn by the great man in his first-ever Test series as captain was sold for A$132,000 in 2015.
Sir Donald Bradman, who averaged a world record 99.94 in his Test career has been regarded as the best batsman in history, and any equipment worn by the Don himself is special to those who love the game.
(With inputs from Reuters)
