THREE cricket bats and a stand are expected to sell for more than £1,000 when they go to auction next month.

Charterhouse Auctioneers will put the items under the hammer in Sherborne, with one of the bats signed by both the England and Australia teams from 1938.

Richard Bromell, of the auctioneers, said: “Having carried out a probate valuation for executors we were them asked to clear the property, a charming thatched Dorset cottage near Shaftesbury.

“The cricket bat stand, sitting at the top of the stairs, caught my eye pretty quickly. Having had an interest in cricket for several decades I was amazed to see one of the bats was signed by both the England and Australian 1938 teams including cricketing legends Len Hutton, Denis Compton with Don Bradman.”

The names from both teams represent some of the most famous pre-war cricketers. The 1938 Ashes between Australia and England was drawn.

England and Australia won a test each, with two of the other tests drawn and the third game of the series, scheduled for Manchester abandoned without a ball being bowled, only the second instance of this in more than 60 years of test cricket.

Also in the cricket bat stand are two other bats. One is a well-played Gunn & Moore Cannon cricket bat and the other a Victorian bat. This has a brass plaque on the back inscribed ‘Presented to Charles Lancaster Esqr by Members of the Calcutta Exhibition Cricket Team for Excellent Batting 1883-84’.

The England v Australia signed cricket bat is estimated at £800-1,200, the Victorian bat with the presentation plaque is expected to sell for £150-250 and the remaining bat and stand for £100-200 when they are sold in the sporting sale on Thursday April 8.

Charterhouse is now accepting entries for their busy programme of auctions including sporting items with pictures and books on April 8, Asian art, antiques and interiors on April 9 and their next specialist sales of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles.

Items for these auctions can be posted directly to Charterhouse at The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne or click and deliver by contacting them on 01935 812277.