Prized cricket bat a highlight of Australian Test cricketer auction collection

A cricket bat known as the “Hayward Century” that legendary Australian batsman Victor Trumper (1877-1915) used in the 1911-12 English tour of Australia (lot 210) is the main feature of fellow Australian Test player Keith Stackpole’s cricket collection being offered as part of Melbourne-based Leski Auctions forthcoming sporting memorabilia sale from 10am Monday March 30 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, Trumper played 48 Tests for Australia between 1899 and 1912 and scored more than 3100 runs, many of them in dazzling style.

He debuted in 1894 for New South Wales aged 17 and scored almost 17,000 runs in 255 first-class matches during his 20-year career.

Unfortunately, Trumper died in Sydney at only 37 from Bright’s disease the year following his retirement leaving behind his wife Sarah, daughter Nancy and son Victor. So popular was he that 20,000 mourners lined the route to the cemetery.

The auction bat, which carries a catalogue estimate of $80,000-$120,000, was used for the last time during his testimonial match in February 1913 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Keith Stackpole (1940-2025) was hard-hitting Australian opening batsman who played 43 Test matches and six One Day Internationals between 1966 and 1974.

He scored more than 2800 Test runs, including seven centuries, with a top score of 207 – and formed a potent opening combination with former Australian captain Bill Lawry.

Another important item in the collection is Stackpole’s 1972 Test baggy green cap in a custom-built encased frame (lot 231).

The year was memorable for Stackpole for, as vice-captain, he was the highest Australian run-scorer with 485 in an English tour where each side one two Tests and drew one.

Among other items in the collection is New Zealand fast bowler Richard Hadlee’s circa 1980s Test cap (lot 238).

Now 74, he took 431 wickets and scored more than 3000 runs in 86 Tests for his country from 1973 to 1990 and is widely regarded as one the greatest all-rounders in cricket history and one of its finest fast bowlers.

A fascinating piece of horse racing history is the saddle (lot 634) used by American Danny Maher (1881-1916) when he rode the winners of three English Derbys – Rock Sand in 1903, Cicero in 1905 and Spearmint in 1906.

Becoming a jockey at 14, Maher was crowned Champion jockey of America three years later and then, aged 19, went to England where he won a contract to ride for King Edward VII, who raced his horses under the name the Duke of Devonshire.

Maher was named English Champion jockey in 1908 and 1913 and from 1900 to 1914 rode 1331 winners and unfortunately died of tuberculosis aged 35, a couple of years after marrying Dorothy Squires.

Complete with two original baggage labels from the American Railway Express Co., in 1925 Maher’s friend and mentor Australian ex-pat Joe Langton (who later became president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce) sent the saddle to his long-time New South Wales friend Aubrey Robinson who had a life-long interest in horses.

Another valuable horse racing item in the auction is the engraved 1948 Caulfield Cup (lot 639) won by Red Fury.

Engraved with the names of the horse’s owners, trainer and rider, the nine-carat gold twin handled cup is estimated at between $60,000 and $80,000.

Former South Melbourne Australian Rules footballer Paul Kennelly, now 79, from the club’s Victorian Football League days, is auctioning his collection of Swans memorabilia in this sale.

A highlight is a large, vintage sepia-toned official photograph (lot 342) of players, trainers and officials from their three consecutive 1888-1890 Victorian Football Association premiership teams including champions captain Henry “Sonny” Elms and vice-captain Peter Burns.

South Melbourne left the VFA in 1897 to become a founding member of the VFL, now the AFL.

Another attraction is the Swans original perpetual silver-plated trophy (lot 359) with engraved plaques attached to the timber plinth containing the names of famous South Melbourne footballers from the 1970s and 1980s.

Lot 448 is the 1959 VFL premireship medal presented to Melbourne half back flanker Ian Thorogood.