Cricket star Shane Warne‘s “baggy green” cap sold at more than Aus$1 million (about $700,000) Friday, with all subsidies going to help the casualties of bushfires causing havoc in Australia. The spinning legend wore the cap during his 145-Test wherein he took more than 700 wickets. He said he was overwhelmed after a late offering war drove the cost to Aus$1,007,500. It far surpassed the Aus$425,000 paid at sell-off for the cap sharing a place with the legend Don Bradman‘s cap that was sold for philanthropy in 2003.
“Much obliged to you such a great amount to everybody that set an offer and a tremendous Thank you/congratulations to the effective bidder – you have overwhelmed me with your liberality and this was path past my desires,” he tweeted.
“The cash will go straightforwardly to the Red Cross bushfire offer. Much obliged to you, Thank you, Thank you.”
The person behind the bid is yet to be identified.
The “baggy green” is granted to Australian players when they make their Test debut and is worn as identification of pride when they are on the field.
Shane Warne decided to put the cap on auction:
Warne chose to put the cap available to be purchased on Monday to enable individuals who endured the cataclysmic flames. These blazes left 26 individuals dead and annihilated close to 2,000 homes.
“The awful bushfires in Australia have left all of us in dismay. The effect these overwhelming flames are having on such a significant number of individuals is unimaginable and has contacted every one of us,” Warne said then on Instagram.
“Everybody is in this together and we keep on discovering approaches to contribute and help regularly.”
Other players to contribute funds:
Individual cricketers Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, and D’Arcy Short have vowed to give Aus$250 for each six they hit during the ongoing Big Bash League Twenty20 competition.
Top tennis players also joined the fray, with world number one Ashleigh Barty giving her rewards from the current week’s Brisbane International to the Red Cross, even though she lost in a crucial match.
Individual Australian Nick Kyrgios, among others, has guaranteed Aus$200 for each ace he serves during the tennis home summer.
