Melbourne, July 01: An anonymous Australian buyer has paid a record 425,000 dollars (283,000 US) for the baggy green cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman when he ended his legendary test career, auctioneers Ludgrove's International announced today. It was the highest price yet paid for a bit of memorabilia linked to Bradman, cricket's legendary batsman who died in 2001 at the age of 92. Ludgrove had planned to auction the cap, which Bradman wore during his final test series in England in 1948, next month in London, but private pre-auction offers were so great that it decided on an immediate sale, it said. The unnamed buyer plans to bring the cap back from England and put it on display in Australia, Ludgrove's said. Bradman wore the cap when he scored the last of his 29 test centuries and then when he made the most famous duck in cricketing history in his final test appearance.

Bradman had given the cap to his English godson, who consigned it to Ludgrove's for sale.

The purchase ended a campaign led by the news limited newspaper group to raise public donations to secure the cap.

Ludgrove's said the price paid for Bradman's last test cap surpassed the previous record paid for the cap worn by the don during a 1948-1949 Indian series. Ludgrove's has never disclosed the amount paid for the earlier cap by a private buyer in February.

Bureau Report