The big bids rushed in for Shane Warne’s baggy green cap after the legendary leg spinner made his treasured item available for auction in an incredible gesture to raise funds for the Bushfire Appeal aiding those affected by the devastating fires across Australia.

The baggy green is a prized possession for any Test cricketer and the King of Spin’s is among the most famous in cricket. Warne wore the cap throughout his 145-match Test career for Australia in which he took 708 wickets.

Once bidding closed at 10am, the winner – revealed to be Commonwealth Bank chief executive officer Matt Comyn – had won with an incredible $1,007,500.

Warnie donates Baggy Green 3:33

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The cap was expected to fetch a huge amount, with the top bid remarkably reaching $275,000 in two hours after bidding began on Monday afternoon. The auction website had been experiencing problems due to high demand, with bids coming almost every minute.

The item comes with an autographed certificate of authenticity from Warne and 100 per cent of proceeds from the online auction will be donated to the Bushfire Appeal.

“The bushfires have been absolutely horrific, and they’ve touched all of us in a way, we’ve seen the total devastation,” Warne said on Fox Cricket.

“Lives have been lost, families have been lost, and over 500 million wildlife has died. The stories are horrific.

“I’ve decided how I can help, and the baggy green cap that I wore through my 145-Test career … I liked to wear my white floppy hat a lot, but I always wore this on the first session of a bowling day every single time, and I’ve had that cap for my whole career and I’ve got it at home.

“I’ve decided to put it up for auction, and however much money is raised, hopefully it’s a significant amount of funds I’ll donate to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.”

A baggy green cap belonging to Sir Donald Bradman once commanded $425,000 when auctioned off for charity.

Warne conceded the donation of his beloved cap was the “least I can do” but remained optimistic he can help attract much-needed funds for those in need.

“Hopefully some cricket lovers around the world, or someone who would’ve liked a baggy green cap, or likes to think that my one would be worth having on their mantlepiece, or wear it in backyard cricket, that someone around the world or here in Australia would like to donate,” he said.

“To give my cap away to someone that could wear it or have it, and just be proud of having it, it’s the least I can do.

“We’re all trying our best. Everyone wants to help out because it’s touched us all.”

Warne’s gesture continues the show of generosity from the Australian cricket community amid the fires raging across the country.

Australia’s fast bowlers have pledged $1000 for every wicket they take in the Sydney Test while Big Bash Stars including Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell are donating $250 per six they hit this season.

Warne joins some of Australian sport’s biggest names including Nick Kyrgios, Ashleigh Barty and Daniel Ricciardo in donating to the cause.

MORE INFO HERE: www.pickles.com.au/campaigns/foxcricket

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