Shane Warne’s baggy green cap raises over £500k for Australia bushfire charity leaving cricket legend ‘blown away’

SHANE WARNE'S baggy green cap has raised over £500,000 for the Red Cross' bushfire appeal, leaving the cricket legend "blown away".

The former spin superstar, 50, wore the cap during every match in his incredible Test career, taking 708 wickets.

But earlier this week, Warne revealed he was set to auction it off for an incredible cause after fires ran rampant through his home country.

When the sale came to an end, the winning bid stood at £530,000 - over one million Australian dollars.

Warne took to Twitter to thank the bidder for the incredibly generous donation, saying it was "way beyond expectations".

The Aussie icon wrote: "Thank you so much to everyone that placed a bid and a huge thank you/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. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you."

Warne had launched the appeal after fires spread throughout massive portions of Australia, with at least 26 people - and half a billion animals - dying.

As the fires raged on - and the mercury reached close to 50C in some places - Warne felt compelled to do something.

UNTHINKABLE

In a statement on social media, Warne wrote: "The horrific bushfires in Australia have left us all in disbelief.

"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 of 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.

"Please go to the link in my bio and make a bid and help me to donate a big cheque! Thank you so much."

The incredible gesture quickly caught traction with a host of fans, former team-mates, friends - and old enemies - responding.

Ex-England skipper and famous rival of the 2005 Ashes, Michael Vaughan, tweeted: "This is incredible. My bid is 25k Aussie Dollars..."

Another of Warne's former adversaries, ex-England quick Darren Gough, wrote: "Well done warnie x".

Former South Africa legend Jonty Rhodes, famed for his elite fielding, added: "Can’t believe the devastation that we seen in the images.

"@ShaneWarne, just like u did in your playing days, putting your hand up for the Aussie cause!! Good on you".