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A ‘baggy green’ Test cap worn by Australian great Sir Don Bradman went for over Rs 2 crore in an auction on Tuesday, December 3 in Sydney, as collectors competed for a rare piece of cricketing history. The cap, which is nearly 80 year old was sun-faded, showed evidence of "insect damage," and had a torn peak.
Bradman wore the Baggy Green for the 1947-48 home series against India, which was historic because it was India's first overseas trip as an independent nation. Significant in Indian history, it is also remarkable in Australian history, with Bradman scoring 715 runs in just six innings. According to Bonhams auction house, Sir Donald Bradman had worn this green cap in his final Test series in his home country.
Bradman was and continues to be revered in India: Sunil Gavaskar
Former legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar recently shared a small antidote about how Bradman's cap has a special place for players and how he has been an inspiration for everybody.
"Bradman has been an inspiration for everybody. And for those in India he was the ultimate cricketing god. (He) insisted on his host to take him to Adelaide because he said, ‘How can I come to heaven and not meet god?’ So he came here, met Sir Don, and I think that for him was the ultimate. That’s how (Bradman) was revered in India, and continues to be revered in India. Honestly, getting the Australia cap from the greatest is something really special. He gave it to the wicket keeper, I believe, the wicket keeper on that tour, and it is a prized possession, it would be a prized possession for anybody,” Gavaskar said.
Bradman announced his retirement after earning an all-time high Test batting average of 99.94 and has been dubbed by the cricket authority Wisden as the finest to "have ever graced the gentleman's game". He played his final Test against England in 1948, at the Oval in London.
