Rediff

Melbourne, Jun 27: A baggy green worn by the late Sir Don Bradman fetched a whopping US $425,000 at an auction in Melbourne.

The cap reportedly worn by Bradman in 1948 was the highest fund-raiser at the auction.

Another baggy green owned by legendary all-rounder Allan Border was sold at almost double its asking price, at US $29,000.

The cap, which is believed to be the first Border cap ever to be sold to public, was estimated at US $15,000 before the sale.

Auctioneer Charles Leski of Leski Auctions, which sold the cap, said it was bought by a private Australian investor.

"It was on the astonishing side of what we'd all expected," Leski told The Australian

Keith Atree, a former WACA employee who used to work as a dressing room attendant, had a large collection of the Sir Don Bradman's memorabilia and thus acquired the caps from Border by exchanging some old pictures of the cricket legend.

Atree worked at the WACA in Perth for more than 50 years as a dressing room attendant and "knew everyone" involved in Australian cricket, Leski said.

However, Atree suffered a stroke and decided to sell the cap to garner money for his family.

Cricket caps from India, England and the West Indies were also auctioned, along with other baggy greens caps, which included an unattributed baggy green.

The cap from the 1989-90 Test Series against Pakistan, was sold at US $9300, triple its pre-sale price.