The Ashes-winning bat, custom made for the England hero, was sold for £22,000 to millionaire UK businessman Nick Robinson in a close battle with Australian paparazzi boss Darryn Lyons. Lyons had threatened to set fire to it in Australia and the bat - signed by Flintoff - was only saved from the flames when Robinson made the winning bid with the hammer about to fall.The bat was one of the few to survive Flintoff’s hard-hitting performances in the summer’s Test series.

The Great Big Bid charity auction will be shown at 6.20pm today on BBC One.

Posted: 11|13|05 at 10:33 am. Filed under: UK News.