Who would Waugh pick as a dream team? “You’d obviously pick Bradman. I think the most fascinating is someone like “Chuck” Fleetwood-Smith (10 Tests, 1935-1938) who was a bit of an eccentric player, left-arm, Chinaman bowler [googly delivery], he was certainly a character of the game.

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“I’d say Lillee would definitely open the bowling, Allan Border as a batsman, Neil Harvey ... you are spoilt for choice.”

Jason Brooks is a businessman from Scone who is a lover of all things sport. A friend of Waugh’s, he owns 23 of the caps. He doesn’t call himself a collector. He is a “custodian”.

He explains that since 1993, players only get one cap. Bradman is believed to have had 13 caps because he played in so many series.

“The most important cap to me is Richie Benaud’s (63 Tests, 1952-1964), a great Australian Test captain, which he probably doesn’t get the kudos for,” Mr Brooks said. “For his commentating, he’s a household name. To own a cap of someone who was in everyone’s living room every night ...”

He keeps the caps in dehumidified bags in a vault. Are they all the same size? “No. Anything before, say 1950, the caps were a lot smaller. They are a lot larger as the years go forward.”

His first cap, purchased six years ago, was Ray Lindwall’s (pace bowler, 61 Tests, 1946-1960).

“I think I paid $15,000. I am more intrigued about the older players. It’s very important that we remember those who have gone before us, what they stood for and what they taught us. To own a Bradman cap would be the holy grail, I suppose.

“I am like any kid of my era – everyone wanted to play Test cricket for Australia. I always wanted to have a baggy green and play for Australia. There’s only one reason I didn’t. I just wasn’t good enough.”

And his dream team from the 32 names? “You’d struggle to choose a captain. Most people would say Ian Chappell. I’m not 100 per cent sure on that. Steve would be captain, by a country mile,” he said.

“Obviously Sir Donald Bradman would bat at three and definitely Ray Lindwall or Dennis Lillee, two of the greatest Australian bowlers of all time.”

The baggy greens are part of an exhibition of Steve Waugh’s cricketing photography from his book The Spirit of Cricket – India at the Hyatt Regency from November 17. Entry is free but a contribution to the Steve Waugh Foundation can be made. More details at stevewaugh.com.au

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