8 Apr 2018

Cricket memorabilia sells for thousands at auction

4:41 pm on 8 April 2018

The bat used by former test cricketer Martin Crowe to score his final test century has sold at auction for more than $21,000.

Martin Crowe elegantly cuts against Australia in the 1992/93 series.

Martin Crowe elegantly cuts against Australia in the 1992/93 series. Photo: Photosport

The bat was one of 227 items sold at Russell Crowe's 'The Art of Divorce' auction - a sort of parting of the wares - in Sydney. He separated from singer Danielle Spencer in 2012.

It sold at considerably more than its estimated price of $5000.

A second bat used by Martin Crowe to score 142 test runs a century against England at Lords Cricket ground in 1994 also sold for $21,000.

Martin Crowe's New Zealand cricket blazer sold for $750.

The items were bought with money raised by private donors and a give-a-little page.

New Zealand Cricket Museum director Jamie Bell said both items played a significant role in New Zealand's cricket history.

"So the bat that Martin scored his 17th and final Test century with which was the New Zealand record up until a couple of weeks ago when Kane Williamson took his place in history and scored his 18th century and the other item is the blazer from the 1982 to 83 tour to Australia."

The items will be displayed in the New Zealand Cricket Museum, said Mr Bell.

What else sold at 'Art of Divorce' auction

Other items that sold at 'The Art of Divorce' auction included Russell Crowe's included his torso armour from Gladiator which smashed expectations, making $A125,000 and his Master and Commander violin sold well too.

There was also fierce competition for his Cinderella Man jockstrap.

It went for $A7,000, more than 10 times the estimate.

But there was also some top-notch Australian art on show from artists such as Sidney Nolan and Margaret Olley. A piece called The Suitor by Charles Blackman fetched $A360,000.

That far outstripped the $A135,000 paid for the Leandro Bislach violin played by Crowe's character in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. The uniform he wore in the film fetched $A135,000.

The Gladiator replica chariot went for $A65,000, nearly seven times above estimate, but the neo-Nazi boots from Romper Stomper went on estimate at $A10,000.

A 1986 Grammy Award presented to Johnny Cash and other music artists made $150,000.

The New Zealand-born actor appeared at the sale, hearing a rendition of Happy Birthday and three cheers, and saying: "G'day folks, how're you doing?"

He had earlier said the sale was all about moving on - a "watershed moment".

RNZ / BBC