Howzat . . . Warnies baggy green goes up for bushfire appeal – Sydney Morning Herald

While Warne preferred to wear a wide-brimmed white hat for much of his legendary career, the baggy green is one of the most prized possessions of any Australian Test cricketer.

The cap reportedly worn by Don Bradman on the 1948 Invincibles tour of England was sold at auction in 2003 for $425,000.

Valuer Rick Milne says the fact the cap is being sold for charity combined with Warne’s large media profile and his standing in the game as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the 20th century would swell the price significantly. He expects the item to fetch around $250,000 but that could easily double.

“It’s certainly worth more than usual because of the nature of the reasons it’s being sold,” Milne said.

I hope my baggy green can raise some significant funds to help all those people that are in desperate need.

Shane Warne

“If there are some high-profile guys who want to show how good guys they are and get into a bidding war, then it could go north of Bradman. That’s what they’re looking for, a couple of big shots to get into a bidding war. If there was a bidding war it could get to $500,000.”

Warne said donating his cap was the “least I could do”.

“The horrific bushfires in Australia have left us all in disbelief,” Warne wrote on Instagram. “The impact these devastating fires are having on so many people is unthinkable and has touched us all.

“Lives have been lost, homes have been destroyed and over 500 million animals have died too. Everyone is in this together and we continue to find ways to contribute and help on a daily basis. This has led me to auction off my beloved baggy green cap (350) that I wore throughout my Test career (when I wasn’t wearing my white floppy hat). I hope my baggy green can raise some significant funds to help all those people that are in desperate need.”

No rush for Molineux

Cricket Australia are taking a long-term view with all-rounder Sophie Molineux, who appears unlikely to feature in the side’s Twenty20 World Cup defence. The 21-year-old all-rounder has not played since taking time out of the game to focus on her mental health in late November.

Coach Matthew Mott had an encouraging update on Molineux after chatting to her over the phone over the weekend, but there is no rush to bring her back for next month’s tournament.

“She’s definitely in a good spot at the moment,” Mott told The Tonk. “She still needs to be a bit more confident in what that looks like long term. Speaking to our medical experts, one of the biggest messages we’ve got is this is not something we want to rush her back for.

“World Cups are a big thing. We’ve played one in 2018, got one now and play one in New Zealand [in 2021].

“It’s not like the Olympics, where it comes around every four years, but she’d love to be available for it.

“More importantly, we want to make sure she’s right for the long term and she comes back in a great place to perform for a number of years. She’s a 10-year player for Australia. Investing some time in herself now is much more important than rushing back.”

On the Motted line

Some more news out of the Australian women’s camp, coach Matthew Mott has penned a new deal keeping him at the helm until 2022.

The former Queensland and Victoria batsman joined the side in March 20

15, replacing former speedster Cathryn Fitzpatrick.

Mott led the team to glory in the 2018 Twenty20 World Cup.

“I’ve just put to paper for another two years; maybe I’m a glutton for punishment,” Mott joked to The Tonk. “I thoroughly enjoy it.”