How and why ...

I asked Ben Blackwell, my old friend, touring bedmate, nephew of Jack White, partner in Third Man records and the guy who knows everything White-related, a few questions …

Why is the bat on the cover of Elephant?

The cricket bat on the cover is meant to be symbolic of an elephant’s tusk. I think the original cricket bats were made out of ivory, right?

Does Jack even like cricket? Has he played cricket? Why in one variant is Jack in complete whites?

The only direct quote you’ll get from Jack White in this entire piece (100 per cent honest, no joke, I asked him when he just walked into my office): “I like cricket, but I still don’t know what’s going on.”

The fact that Jack is wearing all-white on the Australian/ New Zealand version of the Elephant cover should tell you all you need to know about where his allegiances lie.

Was the original demo of Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine really Grace You Have No Faith In Medicine — a reference to cricketing forefather Dr W.G. Grace?

I mean, if you’re going to be a doctor and a cricket player ... I think it’s clear where you’ve put your faith.

Is this lack of acknowledgement a slight at our island nation on behalf of the seven continents of the world? New Zealand is too special, too important, to be anything other than un-needing of a continent to hold it down.

Will the demo of Seven Nation Army ever be revealed to the world where Jack clearly sings “Right Behind My Bat” — referring to the third man fielding position? And will Warstic (the baseball bat company Jack owns) ever make a replica of “the bat”?

You know, when Elephant originally came out, I put in an official White Stripes email blast that the six different album covers, when joined together, would reveal the location of a sword in the Legend of Zelda video game. Total joke on my end, but people took it seriously. Anyway, it would’ve been much funnier to tell folks a lie about behind-the-bat and the third man position.

In all seriousness, I would love to see Warstic make cricket bats. I know there’s been ideas floated about taking on other sports ... I think focusing internationally would be badass.

How many copies has Elephant sold in the last 20 years?

The internet says that the White Stripes have sold 4 million copies of Elephant, but I’d wager that’s a low estimate. My guess is more likely 5 to 5.5 million copies. And that doesn’t even consider streaming, where the numbers would be even higher, I think.