Once the preserve of the wealthy and the rich, collecting sports memorabilia has boomed in recent years, as rare items have become more widely accessible. Back in time, it was not uncommon to stumble upon an old trophy, football shirt or medal in your grandparents’ attic. You’d see them featured on shows like Antiques Roadshow, with dusty old memorabilia fetching thousands of dollars. These days, the process is more commonplace, with modern sports stars often attending signing sessions and offering signed items to the public through numerous online auctions and specialist retailers. The autographed cricket memorabilia market is hot, but what should you focus on and what will be the real collectibles of the future?
English: Quality is always important, so if you focus on that, you’ve won half the battle. That said, the most valuable items are those signed by the biggest teams and players, or are associated with specific matches, tournaments or trophies. They are also in very good condition. Items associated with cricketing greats like Don Bradman, Brain Lara, Ian Botham, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sir Viv Richards fetch high prices. The most expensive item of cricket memorabilia is the Baggy Green Cap owned by Sir Donald Bradman himself during the 1948 ‘Invincibles’ Ashes tour, which sold for around $400,000! The second is a cricket bat used by former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. The bat was used to win the match and was sold for $225,000 at a charity auction in London. The third is Shane Warren’s ‘Ball of the Century’, which he used to bowl Mike Gatting in the 1993 Ashes series. It sold for $68,000 at auction in London in 2000.
From left to right – Modern Collectibles – Virat Kohli signed shirt, England signed shirt, Shane Warne signed ball, Rohit Sharma signed cricket bat, courtesy of sports memorabilia website Fima Stella©
Going back in time to 1925 to be exact, a cricket bat belonging to Sir Jack Hobbs was sold at auction in 2012 for $26,400. Hobbs is one of the original gentleman heroes of cricket and anything related to him is sold for a huge price. And the last Test match jersey of the ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar was sold for $21,000 in 2013.
The allure of rare cricket memorabilia is such that Indian cricket fanatic Rohan Pate has set up a museum in Pune, Maharashtra, in the Deccan Plateau of western India, to showcase his rare memorabilia. The 5,000-square-foot ‘Blade of Glory’ museum houses over 2,000 items! His aim? To collect rare artifacts from the world’s greatest cricketers. And here’s the rub!
Filtering all this information makes it easy to deduce what to buy! Buy the rarest items owned or signed by the biggest names in the game at the best prices. These items will not only retain their value but will also increase in value in the years to come. So what should you collect now? Signed shirts and bats sell for the highest amount, so if you look at the modern game, a signed Virat Kohli shirt can be had for around £2,500 and a bat for under £2,000. Kohli is an Indian hero and one of the most popular cricketers in the world. He led the Indian team until 2024, when he was replaced by Rohit Sharma, and his shirt is worth just £800. If Sharma continues to shine, this is a good pick up. A signed Sharma bat can be had for a similar amount. Again, this could be a sound investment.
If you prefer something closer to home, an England cricket shirt can cost you around £1,250, while a Ben Stokes cricket bat can cost you around £450. The Indian legend is more expensive as availability is a concern.
As a rule of thumb, buy what you like. If you are not interested in Indian cricket, there is no point in buying a Sharma shirt. So if you have a favorite player, country or international team, collect them. If you are not passionate about something and are not going to turn it over, there is no point in buying it. Which brings me to my last point. Take good care of your cricket memorabilia! Many items are best protected from dust and sunlight by being pre-framed. No one wants to buy a faded autograph!
