W.G. Grace's 1000th test run cricket bat given to Syd Gregory goes under the hammer in London

W.G. Grace's 1000th test run cricket bat from the match between England and Australia at Lords in June 1896, will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction in London next month.

Grace gave the bat to Australian test player Syd Gregory after the Lords test, who later gave it to his fellow tourist and brother-in-law Harry Donnan, on their return to Australia. The 113-year-old bat who to be auction on May 12 is expected to fetch up to stg30,000.

Both Gregory and Donnan were in the field when Grace scored his 1000th test run and Gregory later helped set a new Australian record partnership for any wicket of 221 in the second innings of that 1896 game.

``From the evidence of the cording, Grace had probably used this bat for some time, culminating in his 1000th test run,’’ auctioneer Graham Budd said today.

``Inscribed on the front face of the bat reads: 'England v Australia June 1896' and autographed by the England greats beneath: Lyttelton, W.G. Grace, Hayward, Stoddart, Lilley, Barlow, Hearne, E.M. Grace, Capt. A.W. Webbe and others, additionally signed by the Australian 'Demon' bowler, Fred Spofforth, and to the bottom of the front face by future Prime Minister Lloyd George,’’ Budd said.

Test Match cricket began in 1877 when Grace was already 28 and he made his debut in 1880, scoring England's first-ever test century against Australia.

He was an automatic selection for England at home, but his professional duties as a doctor meant that he only travelled on one test-playing tour of Australia, that of 1891-92. His test career, therefore, is not prolific. He played for England 22 times through the 1880s and 1890s, all of them against Australia. He scored 1098 test runs at an average of 32.29.

Grace was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1896, having in this summer played 54 innings, scoring 2135 runs with an average of 424, and having taken 52 wickets with the ball.

Another interesting lot in the sporting auction next month is an interesting group of 19 Orient Line 'Orontes' passenger forms relating to the England cricket team sailing from Tilbury to Freemantle for the 1932-33 'Bodyline' Ashes series.

Each document dated 17th September 1932 and detailing the passenger's details includes all the as English players including skipper Douglas Jardine and the terror of that series, fast bowler Harold Larwood. The papers are expected to fetch stg1500.