IT was believed to be the ball that catapulted Garry Sobers

into the record books.

But the £26,400 piece of leather, sold to a mystery bidder

in 2006, is now claimed to be a 'no ball'.

A book celebrating 40 years since Sobers' recording-breaking

piece of batting on August 31, 1968, suggests the ball sold,

and one hit for six sixes by the Notts cricketer, may not be

one and the same.

Former Notts Supporters' Association secretary Josie Miller,

who owned the ball, insists the one sold – made by Duke &

Son in Nottingham – was authentic when she sold it at

Christie's in 2006.

However, players from Glamorgan claim in the book – Six of

the Best – Cricket's Most Famous Over – that the ball they used

in the match was made by Stuart Surridge, from Wales.

Malcolm Nash, the unfortunate bowler, claims the only ball

that left his hand, Sobers-bound, was a Stuart Surridge.

He claimed in the book, which was released yesterday: "It's

a fact that the ball we used on that day was a Stuart Surridge

ball because Glamorgan never used anything else for home

games.

"There have been various debates and arguments about whether

it was changed. I can assure you it wasn't."

All-rounder Peter Walker, who was playing for Glamorgan,

also states: "I think the authenticity of the ball sold at

Christie's is questionable."

But Ms Miller, of West Bridgford, says she was given the

ball by her supporters' association predecessor, John Gough,

when he retired.

Mr Gough, who has since died, was a close friend of Sobers,

who told the Evening Post he gave the six sixes ball to his

friend after the game.

Speaking from his home in Barbados, Sobers said: "The only

way the girl (Ms Miller) could have got that ball was to get it

from him. There is no other ball she could have. That ball was

the only ball that I know. I never had a doubt because she had

got a ball signed by me."

When asked if he could remember the brand of the match ball

he gave to Mr Gough, he said: "How can I? That was 40 years

ago. I never saw it until two years ago until she brought

it.

"It could not have been signed by anyone else but me."

The ball sold came with a certificate of provenance from

Sobers. In the book it is claimed that Christie's said three

balls were used in the over. But video footage shows what

appears to be the crowd passing back the same ball, the book

states.

It also features an extract from the 1969 Glamorgan Members

Newsletter which reported a meeting between Sobers and

cricket-mad youngster Richard Lewis. Mr Lewis, 17, at the time,

apparently retrieved Sobers' last six and returned the ball to

the club the next day.

The newsletter stated: "Glamorgan presented this ball, which

was made at the firm of Stuart Surridge."

Ms Miller, who says she kept the ball in her make-up drawer

for years, denied suggestions that the ball sold was

inauthentic. "I can assure you 150% that this was the ball,"

she told the Post. "I don't know where all of this has come

from. I am very, very upset about it."

Notts' archivist and librarian Peter Wynne-Thomas says the

question of whether more than one ball was used in the over may

never be unravelled.

A Christie's spokeswoman said: "Christie's always makes

every effort to thoroughly examine and research every object

that is sold. This is the first time we have heard of the

matter, and we will take the necessary action that we deem

appropriate in the circumstances."

chris.birkle@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk