Bradman ‘baggy green’ cap worn against India sells for $311,000
Melbourne: A rare, sun-worn cricket cap once donned by legendary Australian batsman Don Bradman fetched an impressive A$479,700 (about $311,000) at auction, setting a new record for a cap worn by the cricket icon.
This “baggy green” cap was part of Bradman’s gear during India’s inaugural tour of Australia as an independent nation in the 1947-48 cricket season. Over the series, Bradman demonstrated his unmatched brilliance, scoring 715 runs across six innings at an astonishing average of 178.75. He also made history by becoming the first Australian cricketer to reach 100 first-class centuries, leading his team to dominate the series with a 4-0 victory.
At the conclusion of the tour, Bradman gifted the cap to India’s team manager, Pankaj “Peter” Gupta, who later passed it on to wicketkeeper PK Sen. After changing hands over the years, it was purchased by a private collector in 2003 and subsequently loaned to the Bradman Museum in Bowral, Bradman’s hometown, where it was displayed since 2010.
The cap recently went under the hammer with a pre-sale estimate of A$300,000–A$400,000. Sydney auction house Bonhams confirmed it was acquired by an Australian buyer.
This sale eclipses the A$450,000 paid in 2020 for Bradman’s first Test cap from 1928. It comes close to the staggering A$1 million raised by Shane Warne’s baggy green to support bushfire relief efforts.
Widely regarded as the greatest batsman in cricket history, Bradman retired after 52 Test matches with an extraordinary career batting average of 99.94—a record yet to be matched.
The auction coincides with India’s current five-match Test series in Australia. As of now, the visitors lead 1-0, with the second Test set to take place at Adelaide Oval this Friday.
