Bradman Museum to house Shane Warne’s $1m baggy green after Commonwealth Bank win charity auction
Shane Warne’s baggy green, auctioned for over $1m to raise funds to help bushfire victims, will be put on display at the Bradman Museum after the mysterious ‘MC from Sydney’ was identified.
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Old teammates and occasional sparring partners Shane Warne and Steve Waugh are getting back together.
Or at least their caps are.
Warne’s baggy green, which was sold at auction on Friday for $1 million dollars in aid of bushfire relief, will make its home at the Bradman Museum, the home of Australian cricket history in Bowral where Waugh’s cap is also currently residing on loan.
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The Commonwealth Bank revealed itself as the anonymous bidder who had won a thrilling final race to Warne’s cap at a staggering final price of $1,007,500.
CBA chief executive Matt Comyn announced that Warne’s baggy would be taken on a national tour to try and raise even more funds for the Red Cross bushfire relief, before it’s given a permanent home on public display at the Bradman Museum, alongside the caps worn by Waugh and Adam Gilchrist, among other Test legends.
It was Waugh who brought the baggy green into profile by putting a real emphasis on the meaning behind the Australian Test cap during his tenure as captain, feeling it should be put on a pedestal as the most cherished part of the Australian cricketers’ uniform.
Warne wasn’t always as synonymous with promoting the headware during his playing days, but he declared this week the baggy meant as much to him as it does to anyone else, and on Friday it set a new record for the world’s most lucrative piece of cricket memorabilia, one which may never be broken.
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And all for a special cause.
His extraordinary act of generosity in putting the only baggy green he wore in 145 Tests up for auction has headlined the powerful response of Australians reaching out to help the victims of the bushfire tragedy.
Cricket has been front and centre with its response.
Thankyou so much to everyone that placed a bid & a huge Thankyou / congrats to the successful bidder - you have blown me away with your generosity and this was way beyond my expectations ! The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/vyVcA7NfGs
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 9, 2020
Officials from Cricket Australia – led by chief executive Kevin Roberts – are in the process of finalising plans for a mega Bushfire fundraising celebrity T20 match, which will feature Warne, and will likely be staged as either a curtain-raiser for the BBL Final or played the day after.
Warne, the 708 Test wicket-taker, who was one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century, was floored by the million dollar mark being broken just minutes before the 10am auction deadline for his cap.
“I am absolutely, totally blown away. It’s way, way, way, beyond my expectations,” Warne told News Corp Australia.
“I’m like everyone else, I’m just trying to do my bit, and I was trying to think of something that would help out, hopefully raise a few bucks and we could help out the people that are really struggle.
“But to go for $1 million, it’s totally incredible, totally overwhelming.
“It means a hell of a lot to me, my baggy green, I cherish it and everything it stands for. I think it was a gesture from me to show how much the fires touched me and everyone around Australia.
“I thought it could raise a bit of money, make a difference. It’s going to help a lot of people who are in dire and desperate need. I have my memories, but I’d much rather give those people $1 million.”
It was a thrilling finale to the five-day bidding frenzy where the auction price doubled in the last 18 hours, with The Commonwealth Bank eventually winning out over another bidder from Gordon in Sydney who it’s understood is the partner in a major accounting firm.
“I am delighted that CBA has been able to secure Shane’s cherished baggy green cap,” said Comyn.
“This has not only raised another $1 million for bushfire relief, it will also enable us to raise further funds for the bushfire appeal as the cap commences a fundraising tour across the country before retiring as a permanent exhibit at the Bradman Museum in Bowral to be enjoyed by all Australians and cricket fans.
“I want to thank and commend Shane for giving up one of his most cherished possessions for such an important cause.
“He has demonstrated the same Aussie spirit we are seeing across the country with acts of generosity and dedication throughout this disaster as communities rally to support each other.”
Originally published as Bradman Museum to house Shane Warne’s $1m baggy green after Commonwealth Bank win charity auction