Greg Chappell to auction collection of cricket memorabilia

Australian cricket great Greg Chappell is to sell his personal collection of cricket memorabilia on 31 July.

The clothing, equipment and documents on offer are estimated to fetch $A150,000 to $A250,000, said Christies spokesman Michael Ludgrove.

"The most significant collection of an Australian Test captain to appear at public auction" will be sold in Melbourne, as Ashes fever reaches a peak in the UK.

Chappell, 52, currently coaches South Australia. He retired in 1984 with 7,110 Test runs in 87 Tests (average 53.86) including 24 centuries.

Ludgrove added that Chappell had recently moved house and found the collection of baggy green caps, blazers, bats and cricket contracts (among almost 100 lots) "too large for one person to maintain".

The sale will also feature a cricket bat signed by Don Bradman, which he used in the Bodyline series and again in 1963, when he played in a Prime Minister's team against England.

Australian Formula One legend Alan Jones also has items in the auction.

Meanwhile, at Sotheby's in London, a sale on 18 July brought prices of £6,000 (estimate £2,500) for Fred Trueman's 300th Test wicket-taking ball (against Australia in 1964).

Walter Hammond's 1938/9 South Africa touring blazer fetched £5,040 and a near complete run of Wisdens 1879-1984, lacking 1916 and others, made £7,970.