Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanacks,
Football & Sporting Memorabilia
Held on Friday, Saturday & Sunday
22nd, 23rd & 24th March 2024
Lot 134
Estimate: £70/100
Hammer: unsold
England Tour to West Indies 1981. Rarer official autograph sheet with printed title and players’ names. Fully signed in ink by all nineteen original members of the touring party. Signatures are Botham (Captain), Willis, Bairstow, Boycott, Butcher, Dilley, Downton, Emburey, Gatting, Gooch, Gower, Miller, Old, Rose, Stevenson, Willey, Smith (Manager), Barrington (Assistant), and Thomas (physio). Horizontal folds, otherwise in very good condition. Sold with an original mono press photograph by Ken Kelly of Alan Smith, Ken Barrington and Ian Botham in conversation. 9.5”x7”. Very good condition. Qty 2.
The tour was dogged by controversy and tragedy. Bob Willis had to return to England through injury. The Guyanan government then announced they would deport his replacement, Robin Jackman, due to his ties with South Africa, threatening the continuation of the tour, and assistant manager, Ken Barrington, died of a heart attack during the third Test in Barbados.