Crowe treasures headed back to NZ

New Zealand cricket enthusiast Adam Gilshnan is thrilled two items of Martin Crowe memorabilia are coming home, though he found the Sydney auction where they were secured very stressful.

Gilshnan created the Givealittle campaign in a bid to have a range of memorabilia returned, to the New Zealand Cricket Museum in Wellington.

The fund was bolstered by the Alternative Cricket Collective commentary team and anonymous private investors.

Money gathered in the ‘‘fighting fund’’ allowed the bat Martin Crowe used to score his final test century to be bought for $NZ21,145, and a blazer dating back to the 1982-83 season, Gilshnan said.

Sporting memorabilia once

"I just thought these are national treasures."

New Zealand cricket enthusiast Adam Gilshnan

owned by the legendary batsman who died two years ago - were in the auction: ‘‘Russell Crowe: The Art of Divorce’’.

Actor Russell Crowe is cousin to Martin, who is still regarded by many as this country’s greatest test batsman. He scored more than 5000 runs at an average of 45.36 over his 77-test career.

A tense Gilshnan watched on line from Greymouth, while respected sports memorabilia collector Carl Wilson from Invercargill had the stress of bidding.

It was a ‘‘massive effort’’ from Wilson to decide how best to use the money, Gilshnan said.

‘‘I would never have taken this on without him on board. We’re very excited to be able to buy a couple of items and being able to bring them home, for future generations to enjoy them.

‘‘I just thought these are national treasures, and I did not want them dispersed to private collectors all over the world.’’

‘‘Here is my stuff,’’ Russell Crowe wrote in a chatty note at the start of the auction’s printed catalogue.

‘‘Stuff I have worn, stuff I have bought, stuff I have admired, stuff I have loved, stuff that has made me laugh, stuff that I have sweated through.’’

And the actor even made an appearance at the Sotheby’s auction.

‘‘G’day folks’ how are you doin’,’’ he said as he emerged unannounced from behind a black curtain to crash the auction.

Russell Crowe bought the cricket gear when his cousin was having a clear-out, promised his cousin if he ever sold it, he would share the profit.

The actor also sold movie memorabilia, such items from the film Gladiator, and boxing gloves and robes from Cinderella Man and clothing from Robin Hood.

When Gilshnan heard of the auction he set up a Givealittle campaign to try and bring Crowe’s gear back to New Zealand.

That Givealittle money and private donations procured a blazer from the 1980s and the bat.

The items would be donated to the Cricket Museum in Wellington.

Crowe’s 1992 World Cup cap and shirt went for $A7320

Gear worn by Russell Crowe in Gladiator sold for $A120,000.