Sir Donald Bradman’s Baggy Green: Can the 2026 Auction Rewrite Cricket History?

Some sporting objects are artefacts. A rare few are relics. Sir Donald Bradman’s Baggy Green belongs firmly in the latter category. Worn during his final home Test series and hidden from public view for 75 years, the cap is now headed for auction, testing not just price ceilings, but cricket’s place in the global memorabilia hierarchy.

What exactly is going under the hammer in 2026?

Sir Donald Bradman’s Baggy Green cap from the 1947–48 Test series will be auctioned by Lloyds Auctions, closing on January 26, 2026—Australia Day. Remarkably, the cap has never been displayed publicly and has remained with one family for three generations.

Why is this Baggy Green considered so rare?

Bradman personally gifted the cap to fellow Test cricketer Ranga Sohoni, creating an unbroken 75-year chain of provenance. Most caps from this era are locked away in museums. A privately held, authenticated Bradman cap surfacing on the open market is almost unheard of.

When did Bradman wear this particular cap?

Bradman wore it during the 1947–48 series against India—his final home Test campaign. He scored 715 runs in six innings at an average of 178.75, underlining why this series remains one of the most revered chapters in Australian cricket history.

Can this cap break the $1 million auction barrier?

Very possibly. Shane Warne’s Baggy Green sold for $1.007 million in 2020. While Bradman wore multiple caps, his mythic stature, statistical immortality, and this cap’s pristine provenance could push bidding beyond the seven-figure mark.

Why does Bradman’s legacy still command such value?

Because no one has come close. Bradman averaged 99.94 in Test cricket—an outlier so extreme it defies statistical normalcy. In an era where memorabilia value is driven by myth as much as material, Bradman remains cricket’s ultimate outlier.

Why did the family wait 75 years to sell it?

The cap was treated as an heirloom, not an asset—passed quietly through generations. Its emergence now coincides with a global boom in elite sports collectibles, giving collectors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

How does cricket memorabilia compare with global sports auctions?

Cricket has lagged behind. Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt fetched $9.3 million. Babe Ruth’s “Called Shot” jersey sold for $24.1 million. This auction will test whether cricket’s greatest icon can finally enter that financial stratosphere.

Who is expected to bid?

Expect fierce international competition—from ultra-high-net-worth collectors, national museums, and institutions in both Australia and India. The cap’s connection to India’s first Test tour adds an emotional and historical layer to global interest.

What would a record-breaking sale mean for cricket?

It would reset the market. A million-dollar Bradman cap would elevate cricket memorabilia into the top tier of alternative investments, potentially unlocking other hidden treasures from the game’s golden age.

(yMedia is the content partner for this story)