SIR Donald Bradman's first Test cricket bat will stay in Australia after fetching a record price at auction.
Arguably the most famous piece of willow in Australian cricket history, Bradman's bat was snapped up by an Australian bidder for $145,000 - $25,000 more than the upper pre-sale estimate for the auction in Melbourne, Victoria, Adelaide Now reports.
It had been feared the bat - which was signed by the entire 1928-29 Australian team as well as the conquering English who won the series 4-1 - could have ended up overseas.
But a spokeswoman for Melbourne's Leski Auctions said the bat would remain on home soil after being bought by a private vendor.
Read more on this story at Adelaide Now.
