Shane Warne admits it ‘wasn’t easy’ giving up his beer-soaked baggy green cap – which he hopes will raise more than $315,000 for bushfire relief at auction
Shane Warne has admitted it won’t be easy auctioning off his prized baggy green cricket cap to raise money for bushfire relief.
Speaking on the Today show on Tuesday, the 50-year-old said there are a lot of ‘special memories’ associated with the cap he wore throughout his career.
Shane, who is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, added that he hopes the cap will raise more than $315,000 at auction.
Time to say goodbye: Shane Warne has admitted it won’t be easy auctioning off his prized baggy green cricket cap to raise money for bushfire relief. Pictured on the Today show
‘There’s been plenty of tears, plenty of joy, it has also had the odd beer or so thrown all over it after celebrating a win,’ Shane said.
‘There’s some special memories in that cap.
‘I cherish it. It means the world to me. To give it up wasn’t easy, but I thought what it could do, is just help out as much as it possibly can.’
For a good cause: Shane, who is considered one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time, hopes the cap will raise more than $315,000 at auction
‘The impact the bushfires are having is just devastating. It’s just horrific,’ he added. ‘The firefighters are doing so well to keep us so safe as we can.’
The funds raised from the auction will go to the Red Cross, with the auction set to end on Friday.
Shane, who played professional cricket for 21 years, wore the baggy green throughout his 145-match Test career for Australia.
Shane, who played professional cricket for 21 years, wore the baggy green throughout his 145-match Test career for Australia. Pictured with Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath in 2007
The highest bidder will take home a piece of cricketing history, the value of which has rarely been equaled in the annals of sporting memorabilia.
The item will also come with an autographed certificate of authenticity by Shane.
In 2008, one of the coveted baggy green caps worn by the late Sir Donald Bradman in his final Test for Australia was auctioned for charity.
Own a piece of sporting history! The item will also come with an autographed certificate of authenticity by Shane
While the cap from the 1948 Invincibles Ashes Tour of England had been expected to fetch close to $1million, it sold for just $425,000.
The bushfires ravaging Australia have killed 23 people and destroyed thousands of homes.
Another celebrity raising funds is comedian and Instagram sensation Celeste Barber, who started a campaign on Facebook which has raised more than $34million.
Generous: Another celebrity raising funds is comedian and Instagram sensation Celeste Barber, who started a campaign on Facebook which has raised more than $34million