Cricket: Fan budget building in bid for Crowe memorabilia

Fans are banding together to bring Martin Crowe's memorabilia home from his cousin Russell's collection in Australia. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

Organisers of a Givealittle campaign to bring home a selection of Martin Crowe cricketing memorabilia have already amassed a budget of more than $7000.

West Coaster Adam Gilshnan is spearheading the initiative and plans to donate any items won to the New Zealand Cricket Museum.

Thirty items collected from Crowe's career will go under the hammer in Sydney on April 7.
They are being sold by his Oscar-winning cousin Russell - as part of a 227-strong catalogue including art and film mementoes - as he prepares to divorce wife Danielle Spencer.

The auction house Sotheby's estimates the collection, entitled "The Art Of Divorce", could be worth around $3.8 million.

As of midday today, Gilshnan's campaign had collected $4606 from 98 donors. The first $2500 will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Alternative Commentary Collective broadcasting team.

The ACC's primary aim is to purchase of the bat Crowe used to make his 17th and last test century – a mark which has been equalled by Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor and could be broken in the upcoming tests against England.

The Gunn and Moore Autograph blade is inscribed with "Last Test 100 (17), 115 vs. England, Old Trafford 1994". The initials "MDC" – short for Martin David Crowe – are initialled at the top of the handle. The item is expected to sell for between $3800 and $4800.

The ACC are prepared to send a delegation to collect what their boss Mike Lane referred to as "cricketing taonga", and escort it home.

In addition, The Beige Brigade – the New Zealand cricket fan club established by Lane and Paul Ford in 1999 - will donate $15 from each of their iconic 1980s style shirts sold before the auction date.

The BB also own the "underarm" ball used during the infamous ODI at Melbourne on February 1, 1981.

Gilshnan said his intention was "for all New Zealanders young and old to enjoy and to make sure these national treasures can be enjoyed by future generations."

"I'm a New Zealander in my mid-40s, for me Martin Crowe was cricket," he wrote on the New Zealand Cricket Museum website.

"When I heard about the auction, I saw a great opportunity to do something to bring these items home."

The New Zealand Cricket Museum has no allocated budget for purchasing items and generally relies on the generosity of donors to grow its collection.

"As a specialist Museum, we work very closely with the cricket community to preserve and exhibit items which are important for the fans, players, and all those involved," director Jamie Bell said.

"We have always relied on the community's goodwill to increase the collection we hold on their behalf and we are always willing to work with that community to ensure these treasures are properly cared for and celebrated."

Invercargill's Carl Wilson, described on the Givealittle page as a "respected sports memorabilia collector", will help with the bidding given his past experience in such matters.

If no auction bids are successful, all money raised will be donated to the museum. The same applies to any leftover budget if some items are procured.

The hope is auction house fees and import duty on any purchases might be waived.