The cricket ball was presented to England Captain John William Henry Tyler ‘Jonny’ Douglas, who later died in tragic circumstances in 1930.

Mr John William Henry Tyler ‘Jonny’ Douglas is described as ‘a true English sporting hero’ and ‘excellent all round sportsman’. (Image: Reeman Dansie) The leather cricket ball has a silver Australia-shaped plaque inscribed “First ball bowled-Third Test- Adelaide 1921”.

The ball is mounted on a turned walnut plinth with octagonal base raised on bun feet.

The plinth has four silver plaques engraved ‘To Mr JWHT Douglas, as a Souvenir of his visit to Australia as Captain of MCC Team.

As well as his cricketing career, Douglas was also known for boxing at the Olympic games in London, in 1908,  when he represented Great Britain in the middleweight division.

The ball is expected to sell at auction for between £1K and £1.5K (Image: Reeman Dansie) The cricket ball was recently discovered in the county, and is due to be sold at auction for an expected £1,000 to £1,500 at Colchester-based auctioneers Reeman Dansie 

A spokesperson for Reeman Dansie said: “Mr John William Henry Tyler ‘Jonny’ Douglas was a true English sporting hero and excellent all-round sportsman.

“He represented England at the 1908 Olympics where he competed as a middleweight boxer and subsequently won a gold medal having beaten the Australian boxer Reginald ‘Snowy’ Baker.

“This sporting legend sadly died in 1930 when the ship he was sailing in with his father sank after a collision.

“It is said he died trying to save his father who also lost his life. This lot represents a rare glimpse into the life of a forgotten British sporting hero.”

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