- Worn in 1947 after India became an independent country
A famed piece of cricket memorabilia is back in Sydney and about to change owners – for the first time in more than seven decades.
The iconic baggy green, worn by Sir Donald Bradman during his final Test in Australia when he plundered his 100th first-class century, is set to go under the hammer.
Some experts have labelled the coveted item ‘the holy grail’ of sporting memorabilia.
The historic cap was gifted to Indian bowler Sriranga Sohoni during India’s first Test since gaining independence in 1947.
Bradman later put his arm around the young Indian all-rounder and placed the baggy green on his head.
Sohoni’s family safeguarded the Test cap at their home west of Mumbai for three generations.
A famed piece of cricket memorabilia worn by Sir Donald Bradman is back in Sydney and about to change owners – for the first time in more than seven decades
Bradman gifted the baggy green to Sriranga Sohoni during India’s first Test since gaining independence in 1947 – his family later stored the cap in a glass cabinet for safekeeping
Bradman retired from Test cricket in 1948 with a career batting average of 99.94
It was stored in a glass cabinet with strict rules — family members weren’t able to look at it until they were at least 16.
Understandably, Bradman’s baggy green has already attracted huge interest from collectors and cricket enthusiasts.
‘The bidding started at just $1, so you can imagine the call started and never stopped,’ Lloyds Auctions Lee Hames said.
The high bid is currently $445,000 – but could exceed $1million.
It is just one of just 11 of Bradman’s baggy greens known to exist.
The Test cap will be on show in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane before its Australia Day auction.
Bradman retired from Test cricket in 1948 with a career batting average of 99.94.
His first baggy green from 1928 sold for $450,000 in 2020, according to Cricket Australia.
In 2020, the late Shane Warne auctioned off his baggy green cap in aid of Bushfire relief.
The cap was sold to an unnamed buyer from Sydney for a whopping $1,007,500, making it the most expensive baggy green ever auctioned off.
