Sir Geoffrey Boycott puts 100th century bat up for auction

Boycott, who turned 80 last week, famously reached the milestone at Headingley – his home ground as a proud Yorkshireman – in 1977 against Australia

The bat used by Sir Geoffrey Boycott in the innings of his 100th first-class century has been put up for auction by the former England batsman.

Boycott, who turned 80 last week, famously reached the milestone at Headingley – his home ground as a proud Yorkshireman – in 1977 against Australia.

It is the headline act in a mammoth collection bearing his name – the Sir Geoffrey Boycott Collection – being made available through renowned auction house Christie’s London.

An initial valuation has placed the bat between £30,000 and £50,000. Despite its significant sentimental value, Boycott told The Cricketer that a lack of space to properly display it meant that he preferred to see it in other hands.

“It’s been with Yorkshire County Cricket Club in their museum, but the club has so little space under the Members Pavilion,” he explained. “The museum is only open on match days, so very few people see it.

“I personally don’t have space to show all my mementoes and memorabilia. For many years they have been in boxes and suitcases not seen by anyone. Better cricket lovers, admirers and collectors have the opportunity to enjoy them.”

He added: “The fact that I achieved [the 100th hundred] at all and that it was at Headingley in front of my home supporters – and that it was against Australia – made it unique. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

“I used to go to the Slazenger factory and saw bats by Don Bradman, Len Hutton and Garfield Sobers. We all used a very light weight bat weighing about 2lb 4oz to 2lb 5oz. My bat is the same and no more are made like them.  A bit of history that bears no comparison to the huge bats of today.

“[It] is very special and I have insured it over the years, but it is only worth what someone wishes to pay for it.”

^{The Sir Geoffrey Boycott Collection features 130 lots}

In his autobiography, he wrote of the innings that the bat has come to represent: “My finest century for many reasons. I may have played better and more importantly but this was the most magical moment of my life. I was conscious that I was sharing something important with the people of Yorkshire.”

Also among 130 lots put forward by Boycott is the bat he used in his final innings for Yorkshire in 1986 – during which he made 61 before being run out after a mix-up with batting partner Jim Love, finishing eight runs short of 1,000 for the season. The bat he used in his 151st and final century – 135 not out against Surrey at Headingley – also features.

Boycott’s collection, which will be open for bids online between October 27 and November 16, also includes a Test cap originally belonging to Sir Viv Richards, among other highlights.

One of the stumps from England’s remarkable victory at Headingley in the 1981 Ashes – a win often attributed to the batting of Sir Ian Botham and the bowling of Bob Willis – has been given a preliminary estimate between £4,000 and £6,000.

A signed, framed shirt worn by Michael Holding is expected to fetch twice that figure; memorably, Boycott was the recipient of an over from the West Indian great in 1981 that was considered to have been among the fastest ever delivered. With its final ball, he had his off-stump uprooted, sending it cartwheeling across the Bridgetown turf.

Boycott has also made available a Baggy Green worn by Greg Chappell, who – by coincidence – bowled the ball that took him to his landmark hundred, which made him the first player in history to record his 100th century in a Test match.

In a separate collection, the Twenty20 Charity Cricket Auction, Boycott has donated three lots, including his Yorkshire cap. All proceeds raised form its sale will be handed to The Yorkshire Air Ambulance, of which he is a patron.