1946 Ashes First Test Signed Junior Bat

Australia v England - First Test, Brisbane 1946, A junior size bat (73 cm length) used to collect the signatures of the Australian and English teams, assembled in Brisbane for the first post-War Ashes Test Match. This was the first in a five match series, with Bradman as captain, which Australia won, 3-0 with 2 drawn. The bat is titled in blue 'First Test - Australia v England played at Brisbane Nov.29th to Dec.4, 1946' and is signed by the 12 Australians, including Bradman, Hassett, Barnes, Lindwall, McCool and Miller, and the English squad of 16, including Hammond, Yardley, Wright, Bedser and Hutton. There is an illegible pencil signature in the ownership position followed by the location 'Southport'. Led by Bradman, who made 187 and Hasseyy, who made 128, the Australians made 645 in their first and only innings. The English were dismissed for 141 in their first innings and 172 in their second, giving Australia a victory by an innings and 332 runs. Miller took 7 wickets in the first innings, Toshak taking 6 in the second.