With the Ashes getting underway, it's not surprising that Knights auctioneers have decided to hold an auction of sports memorabilia centred around some decent quality cricket collectibles (though with something for football collectors and others too).
Two collectibles in particular stand out, and appropriately one each will inspire Aussie and Pom fans.
Firstly there is an Australian dark green 'baggy green' cloth test cap worn by Ray Lindwall during the series against England in 1959/60.
As cricket fans will know, Lindwall was regarded as the greatest fast bowler of his time, and this cap from one of his last Test matches is rather modestly listed at £3,000-4,000. It would make a strong investment at this price considering how important Aussies regard the green caps as being.
The expected top lot, however, is a bust of one William Gilbert Grace - better known as W G Grace. The large imposing, head and shoulders, bust of Grace sporting a forked beard and wearing a cricket shirt was fashioned by artist William Henry Tyler in 1888.
 W G Grace bust |
An extremely rare and important figure of Grace, it is one of only three similar busts known to exist.
The Marylebone Cricket Club were presented a similar bust by W G Grace's widow in 1919 and it is displayed in the Lord's museum, the other known bust is in the private collection of renowned collector Roger Mann, it was owned by G Neville Weston, a leading student of Grace and it previously belonged to E Rockley Wilson, who had it standing in a bedroom at Winchester College.
Knight's auction takes place on December 4-5 in Leicester, UK.
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