b'22117THE BLACKHAM BROOCH, a piece of the original Blackham Ball used by Frederick Spofforth during the first Ashes Test against England in London in 1882; inset under a rock crystal dome within a circlet of 24 old-cut diamonds and mounted in a 15 carat yellow gold cricket bat-shaped brooch, the reverse engraved Australia v All England, Kennington Oval, August 29th 1882. Accompanied by an original letter from Blackham dated 24th of November, 1924. Framed and glazed, overall 41 x 34.5cm. (2 items).Provenance: Lot 510, Christies Australia Cricket Memorabilia, Melbourne, 13 May 1998.A HIGHLY IMPORTANT PRIMARY OBJECT FROM THE FIRSTASHESTEST The brooch is accompanied by an autograph letter signed by J. MCCARTHY BLACKHAM, to Mrs. Williams, Dear Madam, your mother Mrs. Greenlaw was a great lover of cricket, and a personal friend of Mr. Murdoch, who was the captain of the 1882 Australian Eleven. The only information I can give you re [the] brooch is that Mr. Murdoch asked me to cut a little bit of the skin off the ball to present it to your mother . yours truly, J. McCarthy Blackham. Also sold with the lot is a mounted newspaper clipping from the Herald Ist January 1933, illustrating the brooch, FOOTSCRAY FAMILYS HEIRLOOM . in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. J. Williams of Dove Street, Footscray. As a young man, J. M. Blackham was employed at the bank of which Mrs. Williamss father, Mr. Greenlaw, was the Manager. Mr. Greenlaw took a keen interest in his young assistants career, and gave him every assistance in it. In recognition of this service, W. L. Murdoch, captain of the first Australian Eleven, which defeated the All England Eleven at the Kennington Oval in August 1882 presented the brooch to Mr Greenlaws wife, and from her the brooch has descended to Mr. and Mrs. Williams.The Test match of 1882 followed the Australia tour of England in 1880, which restored cricketing relations between the two countries. The 1878- 79 English tour of Australia had ended disastrously after the English captain, Lord Harris, was attacked by a mob of Colonial roughs and larrikins on a cricket ground in Sydney following a disputed run-out decision. Now, of seven Tests, six of them in Australia, Australia had won four and England two when the Australian 1882 team embarked for England in the Assam. It was the first touring team to play only eleven a side matches on tour. Several preliminary matches resulted in only two losses, to the Players and to Cambridge University Past and Present, and the team were in confident mood before the approaching Test match. Contemporaries such as W. G. Grace, who played in the opposing team, considered this the strongest Australian touring team of any that visited England up to the First World War. It was captained by William Murdoch (1854 -1911), who was born at Sandhurst (Bendigo) but moved to New South Wales and played for the Albert Cricket Club with The Demon Spofforth. Frederick Spofforth (1853 -1926) was Australias first undoubted champion fast bowler. It was his appearance during the leap he made before his delivery stride rather than his pace which earned him the nickname of The Demon. In 1879 at Melbourne he took the first hat-trick in a Test match. He was in the team together with the all-rounder and wicket keeper, John McCarthy Blackham (1854 - 1932) who was born at Fitzroy, and played for the Melbourne Cricket Club. W. G. Grace named him as the best wicket keeper he had ever seen. Blackham revolutionised wicket keeping by standing up to the stumps to the fastest bowling, including that of Spofforth. His courage resulted in the loss of most of his front teeth, broken ribs and every finger also broken. He is considered an original Australian hero comparable with Phar Lap, Les Darcy and Boy Charlton.The match was played over two days at the Kennington Oval in London. English cricketing honour was at stake and in an atmosphere that was electric the match swung furiously from one side to the other involving some memorable incidents such as the run-out of the 21 year old Australian S. P. Jones. After completing his sixth run he strolled out from his crease to examine the pitch which had suffered from a recent fall of rain, when W. G. Grace advanced from his position at point with the ball well concealed behind his beard, whipped off the bails and his appeal for run out was upheld. This angered the Australians and increased their determination. The match moved inexorably in their favour and when Spofforth bowled Read What has been described as an awful silence enveloped the ground . several grown men were seen to faint and when Lucas played on to Spofforth to make England 75 for 8, another dropped down deadand when finally Peate was bowled, giving Australia victory by the slender margin of 7 runs in the grandstand a character ceased chewing at the cane handle of an umbrella and discovered it had snapped at the stem . And, as Spofforth was shouldered from the ground, the crowd recovered from its despair and disbelief. W. G. Grace, in his autobiography Cricket, said First-class bowlers have come and gone with Australian Elevens, but to my mind not one of them has come up to the standard of Spofforth. never has a bowler fought more successfully or pluckily than he did that day of 1882 at Kennington Oval. the best of Australian cricket was worthy of the position in the game. This was the first time Australia had defeated England at home. Spofforths match winning 14 for 90 runs remained a record until 1972. The ball with which Spofforth performed his feat is now in the MCG collection.The morning after the match the Sporting Times published its In Memoriam notice In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket which died at the Oval on 29th August 1882 . The Body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia. The creation of the actual Ashes took place during the following English tour of Australia in 1882-83, when some ladies burned a bail and sealed the ashes in an urn, creating a trophy to be taken back to England. The ceremony took place at Rupertswood, the property near Melbourne belonging to Sir William Clarke, who was then President of the MCC. The resulting trophy known as the Ashes has produced a level of competition between the two nations unknown in any other sport, creating individuals who have had a direct influence on national perceptions and consequently national identity. For those Ashes there has come to be no counterpart in any other sport. (2) $25,00030,000117'