The Baggy Green Cap That Crossed the Boundary
Late in the summer of 1947–48, amid the dust, applause and quiet rituals of Test cricket, Don Bradman performed a gesture that would echo far beyond the scoreboard. After one of the Tests against India, Bradman removed his own Baggy Green cap and handed it to Indian Test cricketer S. W. Sohoni — a simple act, rich with meaning.
It was the twilight of Bradman’s career, his final home Test series, and India’s very first Test tour of Australia as an independent nation.
The exchange was not ceremonial or publicised. It was a moment between two players who had shared the field, an emblem of respect passed quietly from one generation, nation and cricketing culture to another.
More than seven decades later, that same cap — untouched by the auction room, unseen by museums, and safeguarded within one family — is stepping into the light.
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From Dressing Room to Auction Room
The 1947–48 Baggy Green, gifted personally by Bradman to Sohoni, has remained in the Sohoni family for more than 75 years, handed down across three generations. It has never been publicly displayed, never sold, and never separated from its documented history.
Now, fully authenticated and accompanied by provenance material, the cap will be offered at public auction by Lloyds Auctions, with bidding open and set to close on Australia Day, Monday 26 January 2026.
Bidding opens — with fitting symbolism — at just $1.
Why This Baggy Green Matters
Baggy Green caps from Bradman’s era are extraordinarily rare. Players were issued new caps at the start of each Test series, and very few examples survive outside institutional collections. Those that do almost never appear on the open market, particularly with such a clear, uninterrupted chain of ownership and a direct personal connection to Bradman himself.
Experts suggest the cap could realise $1 million or more, driven by Bradman’s singular status in world sport and the exceptional provenance of this piece.
“This is a genuine piece of cricket history that Sir Donald Bradman personally gifted,” said Lloyds Auctions Chief Operations Officer Lee Hames.
“Its uninterrupted family ownership for 75 years and its direct link to ‘The Don’ make it one of the most important Bradman-related pieces to ever come to auction. Closing on Australia Day gives it special national resonance.”
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A Series That Changed the Game
The 1947–48 Australia v India Test series holds a unique place in cricket history. It marked India’s first Test tour of Australia following independence in August 1947, led by Lala Amarnath. Australia, captained by Bradman, dominated the series 4–0 with one draw — but the results tell only part of the story.
The tour symbolised the post-war revival of international cricket and the reshaping of global sporting relationships. Bradman’s gift to Sohoni sits squarely within that context: competitive, respectful, and quietly historic.
An Australian Sporting Relic
Sir Donald Bradman retired from Test cricket in 1948 with a batting average of 99.94, a figure still regarded as one of the most untouchable records in world sport. His legacy is woven into Australia’s cultural fabric, and objects directly linked to him carry a weight that extends far beyond memorabilia.
This cap — made by Farmer’s Sydney, bearing the Australian Coat of Arms, and inscribed internally with the names “D.G. Bradman” and “S.W. Sohoni” — is not just cloth and stitching. It is a physical link to Bradman’s final chapter, to India’s arrival on the world stage, and to a moment when sport transcended rivalry.
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At the Crease, Once More
The cap will be offered at public auction by Lloyds Auctions, with strong interest expected from private collectors, museums, institutions and cricket lovers in Australia and around the world.
Online bidding is now open. The auction concludes on Australia Day, 26 January 2026. For further information or to register to bid, visit Lloyds Auctions or browse the listing here:
https://www.lloydsonline.com.au/LotDetails.aspx?smode=0&aid=66500&lid=5660888
Some artefacts don’t just tell a story — they carry it, cap and all, across generations.
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