Amusing anecdotes.

COMPO

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What's authentic and what isn't. I don't think I have any 1934 autographs.

"Arthur Chipperfield was the surprise choice of the 1934 Australian cricket team to England and even at 29 and already bald was considered the team "junior", so was lumbered on board the SS Orford, en route for Europe, with forging on bats and sheets the signatures of most of the team. It was just before he died, at 81 in 1987, that the old player admitted as much to the author and cricket antiquarian David Frith. "I totally believed him after the dear old boy had displayed to me near-perfect signature forgeries of Bradman, O'Reilly and Oldfield," says Frith, "and it changed my collecting life when it comes to autographs. I've never since trusted any signature as genuine unless I've actually seen it written. With Bradman's signature now fetching over £50, the Bradman Museum employs a forensic analyst to verify the great man's autograph."
Frank Keating The Guardian, Monday 24 September 2001
 
And a little bit more....

Toshack, on the the trip to England for the 1948, as a member of Bradman's Invincibles, grew tired of signing autographs during the voyage, and entrusted a friend with the task. As a result, there are still sheets circulating with his name mis-spelt as Toshak
 
Oh Dear! i will be on the look out for that!
Mind you as i was clearing various departments for my army discharge, i enrolled the help of Mr M Mouse, Mr D Duck and Mr W Wonka to help expidite my clearance forms!!
They were plain to see, as i suspected that the discharge officer just wanted to see signatures, not whose signature it was.
 
Sid Barnes a fine cricketer and a bizarre character held the view that pranks and more pranks and showmanship are needed to brighten up the game and relieve the monotony of the day-long play.

Barnes was a star-class entertainer in his day - no cricketer or follower of the game in the past who would dispute that statement. In Don Bradman's testimonial match he produced a toy bat and took his stance at the wicket. The umpire hesitated before giving him the guard but there was nothing that he could do to prevent him from using it. It came within the only dimensions laid down - that a bat shall not be more than 38 inches in length and 4 1/4 inches in width.

Barnes played one ball with it and then with his usual bat went on to score 89 fine runs.
 
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