Shane Warne raises $1million for bushfire relief as major bank buys Baggy Green at auction

Warne, whose Baggy Green becomes the most valuable of all time - surpassing the $425,000 paid for one of Don Bradman's in 2003, said he was "blown away" by the generosity of the winning bidder

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Shane Warne has raised more than one million Australian dollars for the bushfire appeal, after auctioning his Baggy Green for charity.

The Commonwealth Bank made the successful bid of $1,007,500 (£530,140) for the cap - awarded for representing Australia in Tests - and plan on taking the piece of cricketing memorabilia on a tour to raise further funds in the battle against the fires which have ripped through the country in recent weeks.

Warne, whose Baggy Green becomes the most valuable of all time - surpassing the $425,000 paid for one of Don Bradman's in 2003, said he was "blown away" by the generosity of the winning bidder.

"This was way beyond my expectations," he wrote in a post on social media.

Australia's bushfires have claimed the lives of 27 people, while six million hectares of land has been scorched and more than a billion animals may eventually prove to be affected.

^{Commonwealth Bank were the winning bidders in the auction for Shane Warne's Baggy Green}

All the proceeds from the auction of Warne's cap will go to the Red Cross.

The bidding went through the million-dollar barrier just two minutes before the auction closed on Friday, with Commonwealth Bank (CBA) involved in a last-minute battle with one other generous would-be benefactor to claim the prize.

The winning bid was made by an "M.C." in Sydney, the initials of CBA chief executive Matt Comyn.

"I am delighted that CBA has been able to secure Shane’s cherished Baggy Green cap,"  Comyn said in a statement. 

"This has not only raised another $1million for bushfire relief, it will also enable us to raise further funds for the bushfire appeal as the cap commences a fundraising tour across the country before retiring as a permanent exhibit at the Bradman Museum in Bowral to be enjoyed by all Australians and cricket fans.

"I want to thank and commend Shane for giving up one of his most cherished possessions for such an important cause. He has demonstrated the same Aussie spirit we are seeing across the country with acts of generosity and dedication throughout this disaster as communities rally to support each other."

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Thankyou so much to everyone that placed a bid & a huge Thankyou / congrats to the successful bidder - you have blown me away with your generosity and this was way beyond my expectations ! The money will go direct to the Red Cross bushfire appeal. Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vyVcA7NfGs

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) January 9, 2020