Bradman cap presented to four Indian players

Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, who led the team to a remarkable 2-1 Test series victory against the visiting Australians recently, was presented with a special Sir Donald Bradman cap on Friday as part of a programme to honour the legendary batsman's first club St George Club.

The Indian captain was presented with the prized gift at his Kolkata residence by a representative of an Australian company dealing in Sir Donald Bradman memorabilia.

Three other Indian cricketers -- batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, new star V V S Laxman and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh -- had also been selected for the special Bradman caps for their performance in the recent India-Australia series. The three cricketers have already been presented with the maroon cap with golden and yellow strips which also has an embroidered bust of the late Bradman at the centre.

"It is indeed a great honour to receive this special cap. I am very happy," the Indian captain said after receiving his cap. Ganguly has also been presented a CD-ROM on the 'art of cricket' made by the company to commemorate the occasion. "It will really be worth watching the CD," he said.

On a request from the company, Ganguly presented one of his caps for display at the State Library of New South Wales. The Indian captain presented a cap which he had used during the recent home series against Zimbabwe.

Sachin Tendulkar has also been requested to donate one of his caps for a special exhibition of the World's Greatest Cricketers Caps to be held at the State Library of New South Wales in Sydney on August 28 this year.

The travelling caps exhibition will include caps signed by Wisden's five cricketers of the century, including the English Test cap of Sir Jack Hobbs.

Only 50 special caps have been made to honour the late Bradman's first club St George Club where he played from 1926-32. Ray Lindwall and Arthus Morris were some of the other greats who had played for the club while leg-spinner Stuart MacGill had also represented the club.

The four Indian players were the first to receive the special Bradman caps. "The caps are for their efforts in advancing the spirit of the game and also for the Indian team's fightback in the recent series against Australia," the representative said.