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Lot Essay
THE BALL HIT BY SIR GARFIELD SOBERS TO SCORE HIS HISTORIC SIX SIXES
On the 31st August 1968, Sir Garfield Sobers made cricketing history by scoring six sixes in one over for Nottinghamshire v. Glamorgan at the St Helen's Ground, Swansea. Facing the Glamorgan bowler, Malcolm Nash, Sobers began the over by hitting the first two balls over the heads of the mid-wicket fielders and into the crowd sitting in the stands in front of the Cricketers Inn. On the third delivery, Sobers went down the wicket and drove into the pavillion enclosure. For the fourth, he pulled it high over the scoreboard. The fifth ball was caught by Roger Davis on the long-off boundary, but in doing so, Davis fell over the ropes, and after a consultation between the umpires, another six was signalled. The final ball was hit so hard it flew out of the ground.
No records of the ball suplliers exist from the match, however Duke & Sons were supplying balls to Glamorgan County Cricket Club during this period.
Three separate balls were used in the over. The first two balls were hit into the stands and allegedly returned to the umpires. The third ball was used throughout the rest of the over, and was hit out of the ground for Sobers' last triumphant six.
Two days later the ball's recovery was reported in 'The Western Mail': "a keen-eyed youngster left the ground and searched sidestreets until he spotted it in the gutter at St. Helen's Avenue. The ball will be handed back to Sobers at the St. Helen's pavilion today - but Sobers will not keep the souvenir for long. It is destined for the cricket museum at Trent Bridge Longroom at Nottingham where, suitably inscribed and autographed, it will take pride of place" (John Billot, 'That lost ball will go back to Sobers', 2nd September 1968). From studying video footage and from the diagram in Arthur Barker's The History of Glamorgan County Cricket Club (1971), it seems the ball was hit out of the ground towards King Edward Road, adjacent to St Helen's Avenue, where the youngster made his discovery.
Although it is widely believed the ball has been on display in the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Museum, it was not presented to the Museum by Sobers but given to the Secretary of the Supporters Association at Trent Bridge.
Christie's is grateful to the archivists at Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for their help in preparing this catalogue entry.
On the 31st August 1968, Sir Garfield Sobers made cricketing history by scoring six sixes in one over for Nottinghamshire v. Glamorgan at the St Helen's Ground, Swansea. Facing the Glamorgan bowler, Malcolm Nash, Sobers began the over by hitting the first two balls over the heads of the mid-wicket fielders and into the crowd sitting in the stands in front of the Cricketers Inn. On the third delivery, Sobers went down the wicket and drove into the pavillion enclosure. For the fourth, he pulled it high over the scoreboard. The fifth ball was caught by Roger Davis on the long-off boundary, but in doing so, Davis fell over the ropes, and after a consultation between the umpires, another six was signalled. The final ball was hit so hard it flew out of the ground.
No records of the ball suplliers exist from the match, however Duke & Sons were supplying balls to Glamorgan County Cricket Club during this period.
Three separate balls were used in the over. The first two balls were hit into the stands and allegedly returned to the umpires. The third ball was used throughout the rest of the over, and was hit out of the ground for Sobers' last triumphant six.
Two days later the ball's recovery was reported in 'The Western Mail': "a keen-eyed youngster left the ground and searched sidestreets until he spotted it in the gutter at St. Helen's Avenue. The ball will be handed back to Sobers at the St. Helen's pavilion today - but Sobers will not keep the souvenir for long. It is destined for the cricket museum at Trent Bridge Longroom at Nottingham where, suitably inscribed and autographed, it will take pride of place" (John Billot, 'That lost ball will go back to Sobers', 2nd September 1968). From studying video footage and from the diagram in Arthur Barker's The History of Glamorgan County Cricket Club (1971), it seems the ball was hit out of the ground towards King Edward Road, adjacent to St Helen's Avenue, where the youngster made his discovery.
Although it is widely believed the ball has been on display in the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Museum, it was not presented to the Museum by Sobers but given to the Secretary of the Supporters Association at Trent Bridge.
Christie's is grateful to the archivists at Glamorgan County Cricket Club and Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club for their help in preparing this catalogue entry.