its owner hit many centuries for Australia and now Don Bradman’s blazer has scored its own ton.

The green jacket worn by Bradman during his first Test series as Australian captain, against England in 1936-37, has sold at auction in Melbourne for a hammer price of $100,000, well above the $70,000 estimate.

When the buyer’s premium and GST is added, the anonymous collector paid $132,000.($1 = 1.4440 Australian dollars) 

The woollen blazer, with gold piping and a coat of arms on the breast, is embroidered “D.G. Bradman”.

“This is the first [Bradman] blazer we’ve had up for auction, which is possibly why it sold so well,” auctioneer Max Williamson said after Monday’s auction.

“

It went beyond our expectations ... we’re still shaking.

”

There were two active bidders, one by phone. Bidding opened at $50,000. It was sold to the bidder in the room.

Williamson said he could understand the blazer’s appeal because it was tailored for Bradman and revealed his diminutive stature.

“

You don’t get that from a bat or a cap but the blazer, everyone who looks at it says ‘boy I’ve got a son who is 14 and is bigger than that’.

”

- he said.

“It is shocking to realise how small he was.”

Bradman, who was 170cm tall, had the blazer made for him by Sydney department store Farmers. He donated it in 1974 to be sold as part of a charity auction.

Source - Guardian