Actor Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer divorced last year after their 2012 split. Photo / Supplied
Actor Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer divorced last year after their 2012 split. Photo / Supplied
The bat New Zealand cricket legend Martin Crowe used to score his 17th and final test century against England at Old Trafford has sold for an astonishing $20,000 - and it's coming home.
The coveted 1994 bat was one of 30 items either owned, purchased or gifted to Martin Crowe over his career in cricket. Crowe died of cancer in 2016.
The items were part of the auction: "Russell Crowe: The Art of Divorce" which was held last night on behalf of Martin Crowe's A-list actor cousin.
The Gunn & Moore cricket bat used by Martin Crowe to score his 17th and final Test century, England vs. New Zealand, Old Trafford is coming home.
The auction was described by Sotheby's as "a selection of major works" from Russell Crowe's private collection.
The date - April 7 - is significant to the actor as it is both his birthday and wedding anniversary.
The stunt cuirass worn by Russell Crowe in Gladiator sold for $120,000. Photo / Sothebys
It is understood Russell Crowe bought his cricketing cousin's gear when Martin was having a clear-out in 2006.
Russell paid twice what Martin had been offered by an auction house and promised his cousin if he ever sold the gear for more than what he paid he would share the profit with Martin.
That share will now go to Martin's daughter Emma, 15.
Martin Crowe's 1982-83 New Zealand Cricket Club blazer will also be coming home. Photo / supplied
The A-lister also sold his vast collection of movie and sports memorabilia, including chariots and swords from Gladiator, boxing gloves and robes from Cinderella Man and clothing from Robin Hood.
When Kiwi cricket fan Adam 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 other private donations saw the famed Gunn & Moore bat and Crowe's New Zealand Cricket Club blazer from the 1980s secured.
Martin Crowe's signed New Zealand 1992 World Cup cap and shirt. Photo / Sothebys
The items would be donated to the Wellington New Zealand Cricket Museum.
Museum director Jamie Bell was thrilled two special items would be in New Zealand for all to enjoy.
"The immense outpouring of support for Adam's campaign exemplifies the feeling that Aotearoa has towards Martin Crowe and his legacy.
"There's little doubt of the impact Martin had on cricket – whether as player, captain, commentator or innovator – but this campaign reminds us that he has a place among our broader social history."
Included in the auction, viewed by hundreds live on social media, was a New Zealand test cricket "200 Club" cricket bat, the bat used to score Crowe's 17th test century and his signed New Zealand 1992 World Cup cap and shirt - that had a winning bid of $6000.
Actor Russell Crowe and cousin, the late martin Crowe, at a charity cricket match in 2011. Photo / Ross Setford.
The auction also included scoreboard numbers understood to have been purchased by Martin Crowe from a charity auction at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The numbers were said to be significant to Crowe because they can be arranged 299, which was his highest score in Test cricket. They sold for $2400.
But it was the movie memorabilia that pulled in the big bucks.
A stunt cuirass worn by Russell Crowe in the scene depicting the death of character Maximus in the film Gladiator sold for a staggering $120,000 - $100,000 more than its estimated value.
Martin Crowe and Lorraine Downes in 2015. Photo / Dean Purcell
There were also unusual items such as a plaster cast of Muhammad Ali's face, a life size prop of a horse and a brown leather jockstrap worn by Crowe in Cinderella Man with a winning bid of $7000.
A mounted skull of a Mosasaur from the late Cretaceous Period sold for $65,000.
The 227 items up for grabs were part of a purge-like cleansing after his divorce from Danielle Spencer.
The pair parted amicably in 2012 and divorced five years later.
