'A treasure': Sir Donald Bradman’s triple-century bat under the hammer

Sir Donald Bradman scored the second highest total of his career and his highest ever partnership during the 1934 Ashes. (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez )

The bat used by Sir Donald Bradman in the Ashes series following the infamous Bodyline controversy is up for sale for the first time.

The piece of Australian sporting history has been on display the Bradman Museum in Bowral in the NSW Southern Highlands since 1999, on loan from a private owner.

The William Sykes & Son bat was used in all five test matches of the Ashes test in England where Bradman amassed a total of 758 runs.

Bradman wrote his top scores from the series on the willow — including 304 at Headingley and 244 at the Oval.

"It's provenance is indisputable,' said museum Executive Director Rina Hore.

"Sir Donald has actually written in his own handwriting the fact that he made those scores with this bat."

The bat is also inscribed with 'Don Bradman Private' used to differentiate Bradman's personal bats from those he signed.

Revenge for Bodyline

The 1934 series was the first Ashes after the Bodyline controversy in Australia.

The tactic was employed by the British to counter the prodigious run-scoring of Bradman.

While legal it was widely considered unsportsmanlike.

Don Bradman batting during the fifth Test of the Bodyline series at the SCG in February 1933. (National Library of Australia: Herbert H. Fishwick/Fairfax)

As a consequence, the rules were amended to allow umpires to prevent 'direct attack' bowling.

"They say some players can impact a game so much so that they change the game," said Ms Hore.

Bradman started the series slowly, by his lofty standards, despite the eased English bowling attack, but hit form in the fourth test at Leeds.

He scored a series high 304 at Headingley, a happy hunting ground for Bradman who scored a career-high 334 at the ground just four years earlier.

Sir Donald Bradman managed his highest ever test partnership of 451 with Bill Ponsford. (Supplied: State Library of South Australia)

Bradman's greatest partnership

However, the moment that would live longest in sporting memory was still to come in the final match in London, with the series hanging in the balance.

Bradman's record-breaking partnership with opening batsman Bill Ponsford of 451 runs secured the match and the series for Australia.

The test match would prove to be Ponsford's last, but the record would stand as the highest test partnership for more than 60 years and remains the highest partnership in an Ashes series.

There is no reserve price for the bat, another of Bradman's bats sold at auction in 2018 for $110,000.

Bradman wrote his scores from the series on the back of the bat - 304 at Headingley and 244 at The Oval.  (ABC Illawarra: Tim Fernandez)

Ms Hore said the item is "invaluable" and hopes whoever purchases it makes it available for the public to enjoy.

"I hope it remains in our museum," she said.

"More importantly I hope it remains in those environmental conditions that ensure it remains forever."

The Bradman Museum hopes the new owner of the bat continues to put it on public display. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)