Bid for Shane Warne’s baggy green crosses AUD 500,000

Friday, 10 January 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

ESPNCricinfo: The baggy green cap that Shane Warne has put up for auction has crossed AUD 500,000, with two days still remaining for the bidding.

The auction is being held to raise funds for the bushfire appeal, with the disaster hitting large parts of Australia. In addition to Warne, another legendary former bowler has also put his baggy green up for auction in Jeff Thomson.

The current price for Warne’s cap is the highest ever bid for a baggy green, beating the AUD 425,000 that was bid for Don Bradman’s cap in January 2003.

Warne, 50, is Australia’s most successful Test bowler with 708 wickets, and is commonly regarded as the game’s greatest ever legspinner.

Thomson, 69, played 51 Tests for Australia from 1973 to 1985, taking 200 wickets, and was widely held to be the fastest bowler in the world. He will be auctioning his last remaining baggy green and his cricket vest. All funds raised through the auction of Thomson’s items will be donated to charities and fire services.

“I don’t have much of my memorabilia left, so these two items are quite rare and special,” Thomson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “It’s hard to say what these pieces may go for, but I just hope that they can raise some decent funds that will really make a difference for all of those in need right now.”