Autograph Signings will take place through to the 3rd Test at Eden Park, marking the England tour of New Zealand.
On Sunday at the Seddon Park ground, despite the England top order batsmen, Ian Bell, Jonathon Trott and Joe Root making some useful scores, the Tourists were defeated by 3 wickets. This was their second loss at the Park in seven days.
The Blackcaps put the England side in to bat and having achieved a solid position of 190 for 3 through 40 overs, England lost 7 all important wickets for just 68 runs in the last ten overs, McClenaghan, Franklin and Mills doing most of the damage. McCallum performed well in the field responsible for the wickets of Bell, Woakes and Stuart Broad.
The Blackcaps finding themselves on 155 for 5, assisted by Kane Williamson’s 74 runs, hit back when McCallum (90 not out) scored 69 off 61 deliveries, whilst Martin Guptill having returned to the pavilion injured in the sixth over was sufficiently recovered to hit four 4’s and a six securing victory for the Blackcaps with 2 matches left in the series.
James Anderson (Lancs) rested since the 4th Test at Napur in December, made history with the last ball of his first over by bowling BJ Watling with an inswinger, it was his 529th International wicket, Ian Botham had held the record of 528 wickets.
The ball used to bowl James Anderson into the record books will make an interesting item of Cricket Memorabilia
Sadly there is very little Cricket Memorabilia from the early days of the game and the earliest that I have collated has been late 19th century. The MCC museum has been collecting artefacts since 1864
.Today with International Test and ODI Cricket Collectables are more popular than ever; I personally still prefer to collect Pre WW2 Items especially from the Ashes Series,Bradman and the Invincibles, Bodyline series and all the other legendary characters and memorable events. Particularly I collect signed cricket bats, cricket photos, RPP postcards, signed team sheets and Tour Itineraries.
Early records show Cricket was played in the South East of England around the middle of the sixteenth century, usually on a Sunday afternoon as a way of relaxing from the arduous week, which was the norm for many fortunate to have employment.
Early mentions of the game in 1610 refer to Creckett being played in the woodland areas of the Weald and Upland close to Chevening Kent, in those days playing conditions meant that wickets were up to 6ft wide and only around a foot high which figures as underarm bowling was usual, with the ball travelling along the surface to the pitch. Bats were shaped like hockey sticks, earlier still like shepherds crooks.
County cricket teams are first recorded in 1660 when landowners and similar notable figures are understood to have taken an interest in fielding teams to play against neighbouring Shires, villages from other counties would compete and some players were compensated for playing becoming the first cricket professionals. Records are available for the first inter county match Kent v Surrey in 1709
It is known that gambling in England around this time was rife and substantial wagers are understood to have been placed on Cricket matches, (rather like today). It is referenced in 1697 that a match was played in Sussex with 11 players a side for a wager of the considerable sum of 50 guineas
It is interesting to note that the divide in English cricket created by amateur and professional status remained in place until 1962. This was due a requirement for clubs to generate income and generally to put sport on a more professional basis.
The Stars and Garter club in Pall Mall, later to become the Marylebone Cricket Club formalised the laws of cricket in 1755 and amongst other things pitching the ball became the accepted bowling style.
It was 1864 before overarm deliveries became usual, the same year that the Wisden Cricketers Almanack was first published.
Public school matches are recorded as played in 1794 the first being Westminster v Charterhouse.
England lost their first recognised Test Match in 1877 against Australia in Melbourne the hosts won by 45 runs, three years later the first Test series was played in England when they defeated the tourists by five wickets at the Oval this was followed by an Australian win in the return series in 1882.
Following England’s first defeat by Australia on home ground in 1882 the Sporting Times periodical published an obituary notice stating that “the England team are in Ashes”, this led to England v Australia Test matches being referred to as the Ashes series.
Since then more than 2000 Test Matches have been played by eleven competing teams.
The Ashes are kept; irrespective of who wins them, in a small ceramic urn at Lords Cricket Museum, which incidentally has the best collection of Cricket memorabilia in the world, well worth a visit.
.A label is attached to the urn which contains the following song lyric originally published in the Melbourne edition of Punch magazine on Feb 1st 1883
When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn; Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return; The welkin will ring loud, The great crowd will feel proud, Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn; And the rest coming home with the urn.
Prior to the disputed Fourth Test held in Feb 1883, a velvet bag made by Mrs Ann Fletcher, daughter of Joseph Hines Clarke and Marion Wright, of Dublin, was given to Ivo Bligh containing the urn.
A more detailed account of how the Ashes were given to Ivo Bligh was outlined by his wife, the Countess of Darnley, in 1930 during a speech at a cricket luncheon. Her speech was reported by the London Times as follows.
“In 1882, she said, it was first spoken of when the Sporting Times, after the Australians had thoroughly beaten the English at the Oval, wrote an obituary in affectionate memory of English cricket “whose demise was deeply lamented and the body would be cremated and taken to Australia”. Her husband, then Ivo Bligh, took a team to Australia in the following year. Punch had a poem containing the words “When Ivo comes back with the urn” and when Ivo Bligh wiped out the defeat Lady Clarke, wife of Sir W. J. Clarke, who entertained the English so lavishly, found a little wooden urn, burnt a bail, put the ashes in the urn, and wrapping it in a red velvet bag, put it into her husband’s (Ivo Bligh’s) hands. He had always regarded it as a great treasure.”[11]
From early 16th century beginnings Cricket is now played enthusiastically in over 100 countries around the world, collecting Cricket Memorabilia is indeed a worthwhile hobby or small business.
One day internationals are never disappointing when it comes to sourcing cricket collectables, there generally seems a more relaxed atmosphere surprisingly, players engage with fans and when celebrations are complete many official signings take place.
ODI cricket memorabilia especially signed cricket bats, cricket autographs, signed timesheets and tour material have always proved popular and the five ODI’s culminating in the last match on Sunday Jan 27th at the HPCA Stadium, Dharmasala all look promising. A good series win for England and some outstanding performances would be even better for collectors.
ODI s are a little unpredictable for example Dhoni hit 4 sixes off 8 encouraged by 28000 of his home fans , it is this kind of thing that really makes One day Internationals.
With a number of England players not present for the opening ODI at the Saurashtra Stadium Rajkot India made a brave attempt in reply to England’s 325, it wasn’t quite good enough this time.
Ricky Hatton Boxing Memorabilia has always been in demand, which may well build momentum if Hatton's comeback bout with former World Welterweight Champion Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko is successful.
Mancunian Ricky “Hitman”Hatton returns to the ring after a three and a half year retirement, at the sold out Manchester Arena venue on Saturday night.
History is littered with boxers who retire, come back and expect to be back to their prime, it rarely happens, having said that the last time Hatton fought he was knocked out by Pacquiao at the MGM Grand 2009, in the second round.
Senchenko was stopped by Paulie Malignaggi earlier this year in his defence of his WBA title, his first loss in 33 fights, Senchenko will be fighting outside Ukraine for the first time and can expect no mercy from the 20.000 sell out home crowd.
The man who beat him, eight times World Champion Manny Pacquiao believes Hatton should concentrate on enjoying retirement conversely boxing fans must be hoping that against all logic Hatton is soon on his way to another World title.
With a Hatton win Boxing Collectables, Gloves, signed photos, presentations, match worn attire will all be at a premium.
The bookies certainly think Hatton will win Ladbrokes offer 2/7 and a generous 11/4 Senchenko to win.
When collecting signed cricket bats it can be useful to specialise in specific areas say Test Cricket, First Class Matches, Ashes series. Pre-war and post war etc. I try to concentrate on pre-war, assembling a pre-war collection can be expensive and time consuming yet at the same time a very enjoyable and rewarding experience.
It is fact that some cricketers were always more prolific when it came to Autographs and if approached at Cricket grounds from Lords to the Kensington Oval Barbados would happily oblige fans, an example would be Don Bradman arguably the greatest cricketer of all who would readily provide his autograph whereas Sid Barnes has rarely put pen to willow and when he did it was often stamped
It stands to reason that when a cricketer is no longer with us his legacy to the enthusiast is his autograph, there can only be so many examples before the rarity aspect play its part.
With some effort the Cricket Enthusiast can follow auctions and sales around the world make notes and compile lists of signatories with a rarity value. Often sought after individual Cricket Bat autographs are found as part of a team signing, these cricket bats especially when signed by both sides, possibly with Umpires and Manager s included can be great buys, I personally try to concentrate on Pre-War Ashes Matches, England v West Indies, India, South Africa and New Zealand plus some of the County Championship Clubs, where many of the legendary test player’s have emanated from, in my collection I have examples of Middlesex, Nottinghamshire, MCC, Sussex, Surrey, Worcester, Lancashire and Yorkshire autographed match used bats
It is important that Autographed Cricket bats are related to memorable events, legendary players and successful teams this is why there is so much demand for Ashes test match memorabilia.
I am currently interested in autographs and Cricket Memorabilia associated with the 1932/33 Bodyline series.
Signed Cricket Bats which have recently come available from private collections or sales include rare examples from the England v Australia series 1932/33.(note Bradman was missing in the 1st Test at Sydney due to illness) Below is a detailed list of matches played during the series compiled by cricinfo
Any cricket memorabilia associated with this series will always be in demand by collectors and fans alike.
Modern day signed Cricket bats are far more readily available, it has become popular for Test Cricketer to carry out signings where a large number of bats may be autographed in one session many used for charitable purposes, these bats can make great additions to a portfolio and in time will increase in rarity value however for the moment I am sticking with seeking out the pre-war and early to mid-fifties examples.
Len Hutton Cricket Memorabilia is something every Cricketana enthusiast requires in his portfolio, there are many good examples available, completed scorecards, autographed photographs, Test information, tour brochures, match tickets, official Christmas cards and signed Cricket ephemera
Len Hutton (1916 – 1990), as most people know was an English Cricketer a Test Captain who played for his home County Yorkshire, he became a household name in the 1940s due to his exceptional Cricket talents which captivated the public in both pre and post war eras.
During his First Class career Len Hutton scored 40140 runs (55.51) he notched up 129 centuries and on eleven occasions scored more than 200 runs.
Hutton was born in Pudsey a market town in West Yorkshire, coming from a Cricketing family he had shown an early interest in the game, when he was 13 he was encouraged to join the Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club, his father Henry had played for them in the Bradford League. He played his first match in the second eleven at 12 and when he was 16 he was selected for the 1st eleven, his all-round abilities soon came to the attention of Yorkshire CCC, where he made his First Class debut for Yorkshire the following year in 1934.
These early matches are of particular interest to Collectors; It is often the case that Collectors specialise in specific areas of Cricket i.e. Tests, County, Ashes or whatever, they may concentrate on Pre-war or Post war my personal interest is generally memorable Pre-war Cricket, not necessarily the player himself often the team factor of the match he is playing in, accordingly I have listed some Len Hutton examples below:
1934 Worcestershire v Yorkshire Championship match at the County Ground, Hutton opening the batting with fellow professional Wilf Barber, in the 1st innings, Hutton scored 196 runs before being bowled by Reg Perks. Yorkshire won by 10 wickets.
1935 Yorkshire v Middlesex at Headingley, Hutton opened the batting with Herbert Sutcliffe, Hutton scored 131 in the 1st innings, caught by George Hart. Yorkshire won by an innings and 82 runs.
1937 Yorkshire v Derbyshire at Bramall Lane opening the batting with Sutcliffe, Hutton scored 271 runs not out. Yorkshire won by an innings and 99 runs.
1937 Yorkshire v Leicestershire at the Circle, Hutton opened the batting with Sutcliffe in a partnership of 315, Hutton scored 153.
1937 Leicestershire v Yorkshire at Aylestone rd, Hutton took 10 wickets, 4 in the 1st innings 6 in the second which was his best ever bowling performance. This match is unique in that with Hutton collectors often concentrate on batting events
In 1937 Hutton made his Test debut against New Zealand at Lords, opening the 1st innings he scored his maiden century (100 runs exactly, bowled by Giff Vivian, caught Dunning) in the second innings he made 14 and was this time caught by Giff Vivian. England won by 130 runs.
1938 England v Australia at Trent Bridge opening with Charlie Barnett the pair put on 219; Hutton scored 100, lbw Fleetwood – Smith.
1938 England v Australia at the Oval, opener Hutton scored 364 in the 1st innings caught Hassett bowled O’Reilly. His time spent at the wicket was13 hours a record at that time.
In 1938/39 Hutton toured South Africa which would not hold the same appeal for Collectors as the previous Ashes series. This was the last series prior to the war which brought an end to international cricket for next few years.
All the matches listed above are very collectable as are a few which are omitted. It should be emphasised that Hutton Memorabilia is collectable irrespective of an event; the quality of the event enhances the item.
Below are some statistics source cricketarchive.com which demonstrate the outstanding achievements of Len Hutton.
Cricket Memorabilia is in high demand - Jack Hobbs scored 61.760 first class runs – Centuries 199 –That’s why he was named The Master.
Jack Hobbs (1882 – 1963) was a prolific run maker, a right hand bat and medium pace bowler; he was regarded as the complete all round Cricketer.
Hobbs hails from Cambridge UK, he followed his father in his love of Cricket, in 1901 he began playing in local competition matches as an amateur for Cambridgeshire. He was offered a trial with Surrey in 1903 where he began to make his mark playing with the Colts and Club and Ground sides, his batting and bowling merited a mention in the following years Cricketers Almanac.
Hobbs made his debut for Surrey in 1905 and in First Class matches that season he scored 1317 (25.82) runs including a couple of centuries.
During 1907 a second innings score of 150 not out at the Oval, in a County Championship match against Warwickshire, meant the MCC could ignore him no longer and he was selected for the forthcoming MCC v Australia tour making his Test debut on New Year’s day at Melbourne averaging 43.14 in Tests and 41.71 in first class matches. These early averages were the benchmark for the future.
Jack Hobbs cricket memorabilia is not especially rare as he was always popular and attentive to fans, however no collection is complete without a least some mementos, most prolific are autographs and signed photographs, signed bats are in demand whether signed individually or as part of the County/Test team, an authentic match used bat is hard to find but well worth the effort.
Tour Memorabilia, at sea photographs, completed scorecards, team and action sepia press photographs, hand written letters and match programmes are all available in degrees of scarcity.
The above covers the beginnings of Jack Hobbs cricket career and I have listed below brief statistics which demonstrate what he went on to achieve.
He was knighted for services to Cricket in 1953 the same year the honour was awarded to “Shrimp” Levson Gower.(Surrey, England).
Jack Hobbs Cricket Memorabilia which is of particular interest to me is associated with memorable events; I have listed a selection of these below:
Note: Combination autographed collectables of Jack Hobbs and fellow opener Herbert Sutcliffe are always in demand. The pair opening the batting making 15 century partnerships in Test matches.
The best English batsman of the 1930’s, Cricket Memorabilia from Wally Hammond’s Golden days is highly sought after by fans and enthusiasts.
Wally Hammond the Gloucestershire and England all-rounder is remembered as probably one of the four best batsmen ever and signed collectables such as bats, match wear, sepia press photographs, match tickets, completed printed scorecards, tour paraphernalia, hand written letters, caps, autographs and paintings to name but a few are always in demand and none more so than Hammond, Don Bradman, Sid Barnes, and other heroes from this golden era of cricket.
Wally Hammond (1903 – 1965) hails from Dover UK and was educated as a boarder at Cirencester Grammar School where he was captain of the first eleven, on leaving in 1920 he had originally planned to attend the prestigious agriculture college at Winchester however he was given a trial for Gloucestershire Cricket Club where he was quickly signed as a professional. Hammond made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire that same year.
Hammond proving to be a good all-rounder made his first class maiden century against Surrey in 1923 scoring 110/92 as the opening bat. Over the next few years he was often in the eye of the MCC selectors, notably scoring 250 not out against Lancs in 1925 with 1818 runs for the season plus 68 relatively economic wickets, this was enough to ensure his selection on the winter tour of the West Indies where he averaged 49 runs per innings in first class matches including a couple of centuries, he also took 20 wickets (28.65). After playing Jamaica Hammond was taken seriously ill with blood poisoning and missed the remaining matches, he was not fully recovered until the start of the 1927 season.
He immediately marked his return to cricket in May 1927 by scoring a 1000 runs during the first month of the cricket season later that year he joined the winter tour to South Africa making his Test debut in the first match of the series scoring 57 runs as the number 4 bat and taking some useful wickets.
Cricket Memorabilia from the following matches are of particular interest to me :
*In the 1933 Test against New Zealand at Auckland Hammond made 336 runs the fastest ever triple century this is why linking Cricket Memorabilia to an event can be so important.
Hammond’s cricketing career spanned thirty one years between 1920 -1951 during which he made 50.000 runs and 167 centuries
In just five Test Matches in 1928/29, England v Australia, Hammond scored an incredible 905 runs. Listed below are some of his enviable statistics:
Sid Barnes autographs are rare and sought after by Cricket Memorabilia enthusiasts second only to Don Bradman on the field, the controversial South Australian cricketer was not known as a prolific signatory of Cricket Collectables.
Sid Barnes was born in Annandale New South Wales in 1916 and it was at fee paying Stanmore Public School that Sid made his mark on the Cricket field and was soon invited to join the NSW schoolboy side to play Victoria and Queensland. He was unfortunately to young to be part of the 1932/33 Bodyline series and it was in that year that he joined the Petersham Cricket Club, it was whilst at PCC that he come to the attention of the NSW selectors, making his first class debut at Sidney Cricket Ground at the end of the 1936/37 season against South Australia. His selection followed several high scores and the achievement of his maiden century (127 not out) against Western Australia, the NSWCA failed to acknowledge the match as holding first class status, leaving Sid to make his point against Victoria in his final innings of the season with a score of 110.
Cricket Memorabilia varies in value depending on the status of the player and how available he is to signing collectables, whereas Don Bradman would always sign for fans and plenty of examples exist, Sid Barnes was not as prolific therefore his autographs are rare. Usually the collector would associate an autograph with an event i.e. a signed photograph from a high scoring memorable Ashes match would be more attractive than one from a lesser event but in Sid’s case it is prudent to secure whatever is available. I am fortunate to have a hand signed photograph from the 1948 Lords match and a signed official scorecard from his last test at the Oval.
Sid completed the season with 800 runs at an average of 51, which secured his selection in the 1938 tour to England.
Sitting in the pavilion with a wrist injury he took little part in series until he finally made his debut in the final Test at the Oval scoring a respectable (41/33), a series which saw England win by an innings and 579 runs. England made some high scores with Len Hutton scoring an amazing 374, Maurice Leyland 187, Joe Hardstaff 169. The Oval was ironically the venue of Sid’s last test in 1948.
During the first class matches Sid scored 720 runs without achieving a century however in a 2 day non qualifier at Durham he did score 140.
WW2 put an end to international cricket matches and in the early 1940s Sid enlisted in the military (Ist Armoured Division Tanks), his cricket career was on hold until the end of the War and the start of the .45/46 season. During the season he scored 5 successive centuries for New South Wales and was a natural selection for the forthcoming tour of New Zealand. In the one match played at Basin Reserve Sid made 54 in a game easily won by the Australians.
The 1946/47 saw Sid as opening bat in the Ashes series, during the second Test at Sydney he scored 234 as part of a world record 405 run fifth wicket partnership with Don Bradman . Amazingly both batsmen ended their innings on 234 runs apiece Sid was bowled by an Alec Bedser special, Bradman by Norman Yardley, it is notable that none of the other Australian players scored over 40 runs. Sid averaged 73; to Bradman’s 97; Australia won the 5 test series 3/0.
Following a brief spell with Lancs League Cricket in 1947 Sid returned to Australia keen to be selected for the 1948 tour to England, a team to become known as the Invincibles.
Having failed to be selected in first 2 tests against India, the Sheffield Shield match between Victoria and New South Wales was the opportunity Sid was looking for to remind the selectors of his batting skills, he achieved this with scores of 158 lbw to Ring and 80 not out in the second innings.
Sid was reselected and in the 4th test at Adelaide he scored 112 in a 236 run partnership with Bradman securing his place on the 1948 tour which resulted in 4/0 series win for the tourists. In the second test at Lords Sid scored 141 in the 2nd innings following a duck in the first, having been caught by Len Hutton. Sid played 4 of the 5 tests making a total of 329 runs at an average of 82, he had missed the fourth test through injury incurred whilst fielding at an intimidating forward short leg. His final first class tally for the tour was 1354 runs.
Sid Barnes, who in later life suffered from Bipolar died at home in Sydney in 1975
