The cap during the auction at Christie's

The cap was bought by a private Australian collector who lives in London, said Christie's auctioneers.

The buyer, who was not identified by name, plans to add the cap to his private cricket collection but also hopes to display it in Australia.

"As we were getting ready to auction the cap off, there was a hum of excitement in the room," said Rik Pike, a Christie's spokesman.

"And the bidding took a couple of minutes. After we sold it, there was a clap in the room, which you don't always have."

A bat Sir Don used in a tour of England in 1930 went for �29,375 to another collector.

Sir Don scored 232 with the bat in the fifth Test of the tour.

Sir Don, who died two years ago, is regarded as the best batsman ever to play cricket.

He captained Australia from 1936-48 and made 19 centuries against England in a 20-year span, from 1928-48.

A cap worn by Douglas Jardine, who skippered England during the infamous Bodyline series in Australia in 1932-33 has, meanwhile been sold for �9,620 at an auction in Melbourne.