Original Scorebook For 1st Australian Cricket Tour Of England
MELBOURNE, Dec. 3/ Medianet International-AsiaNet/ --
Fred Spofforth is hardly a household name, but his exploits in England in 1878
paved the way for later Australian ‘quicks’ like Ray Lindwall, Dennis Lillee, and
Glen McGrath. Spofforth completed a hat-trick and earned the title ‘The Demon
Bowler’, becoming arguably Australia’s finest pace bowler of the 19th century.
His reputation may have dimmed over time, but now his achievements have come to
light with a remarkable scorebook covering the first representative Australian
cricket team to tour England. The original scorebook of the Hastings & St
Leonards Cricket Club for 1878 and 1879 is a window into an intrepid group of
Australian cricketers who took months to reach the Old Dart via the USA.
Another notable member mentioned in the scorebook is Billy Murdoch, a highly-
rated batsman who later became captain of Australia. He was a controversial
figure whose omission as wicketkeeper in Australia’s first-ever Test resulted in
Spofforth boycotting the match.
Lot 43 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Monday,
December 15th at 5.30pm with a presale estimate of $10,000 - $12,000.
“We’ve seen many rare and remarkable items of cricketing memorabilia over the
years, which help us to understand the fascination that cricket has for millions
of people worldwide,” says Charles Leski. “This scorebook must rank among the
greatest, as it’s the original building block on which an Australian empire has
been built.”
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading
auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia, Australiana, Collectibles and World
Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art,
wine, cameras, books, autographs, entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins,
stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway memorabilia,
advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time
bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™, which allows participation from anywhere in
the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia.
Contact: Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
+61-3-9864-9999
charles@leski.com.au
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
+61-403-135-880
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
SOURCE: Charles Leski Austions
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