A SUTTON pensioner has stumbled across a rare cricket bat, signed by Sir Jack Hobbs and the rest of the 1926 Ashes-winning England team. The bat is about to come up at auction and could fetch thousands of pounds. The bat, which is signed by both the Engla

A SUTTON pensioner has stumbled across a rare cricket bat, signed by Sir Jack Hobbs and the rest of the 1926 Ashes-winning England team. The bat is about to come up at auction and could fetch thousands of pounds.

The bat, which is signed by both the England and Australia sides as well as Hobbs' Surrey side of the period, was found in a bin bag at the back of a cupboard and is set to go under the hammer later this month.

The bat was found by an elderly Sutton woman at her home last year, and brought in for valuation to Ely auctioneers Rowley Fine Art during Sutton Feast Week last July.

The Downham Road business is holding the piece until it reaches auction and Silas Currie, auctioneer with the firm, said: "It is a particular brand of bat which he put his name to, in much the way that Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff do now.

"It's what's called an 'Oval' bat and, as far as we can see, it's only ever been used for collecting signatures."

How the bat came to be in Sutton remains a mystery, although it is believed that it belonged to the woman's late husband and his father collected the signatures.

"The series in 1926 was a great series and it's the great players which collectors look for," said Mr Currie. "England won 1-0 by winning the final Test and the team went on to do great things.

"We've already had many enquiries, including one from the other side of the world, although as a cricket fan I'd prefer to see it stay in this country.

"We've also had enquiries from a number of museums and I think it would look best either in a museum or as part of a decent private collection, of which there are many."

The bat will go to auction at Tattersalls in Newmarket on February 21. It has a guide price of £1,000-£1,500.

INFO: contact Rowley Fine Art on 01353 653020.

DO you know anything about the history of this bat? Are you the woman who found it? If so, contact The Ely Standard and have a chat with one of our reporters on 01353 667831 or email: ben.jones@archant.co.uk.