Eric Hollies's cap fails to sell at auction

The cap worn by Eric Hollies in the fifth Test against Australia in 1948 © Getty Images Enlarge

The cap belonging to Eric Hollies, who bowled Don Bradman for a duck in his final Test match at The Oval in 1948, has failed to sell at auction in Melbourne.

Hollies is forever associated with Bradman as it was he, in dismissing him for a second-ball duck, who denied Bradman a career average in excess of 100. Bradman retired after the game averaging 99.94, a record which still stands today. After the Test, which Australia won comfortably by an innings and 149 runs, Hollies gave his cap to the Australia opener, Arthur Morris, who was at the other end of the crease when Bradman was dismissed. Morris went on to score 196 after England were blown apart in their first innings by Ray Lindwall, who dismissed the hosts for just 52.

The cap, auctioned by Charles Leski Auctions, was accompanied by a letter from Morris authenticating it - but it remained unsold, despite expecting to fetch in excess of US$23,000. "There was not a lot of interest in it," a spokeswoman for Charles Leski Auctions said. "People will still be able to buy it over the next few weeks."