The cricket bat used by England's Sir Geoffrey Boycott to make the 100th century of his career has been put up for auction with Christie's London ©Getty Images

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has put the cricket bat he used to score the 100th first-class century of his career up for auction, with estimates it could fetch as much as £50,000 ($65,000/€55,000).

The former England opening batsman, who turned 80 last Wednesday (October 28), reached the historic milestone during a Test match in 1977 against Australia at Headingley, the home ground of Yorkshire, the county he spent his 24-year-old career with.

The bat, manufactured by Slazenger, is the headline item in an auction entitled the "Sir Geoffrey Boycott Collection" that is being sold by Christie’s London.

Other items up for auction include a stump from the 1981 Headingley Test, when England beat Australia after following on thanks to the heroics of Ian Botham and Bob Willis.

Sir Geoffrey’s contribution to the miracle was an easily forgotten second-innings 46 in three-and-a-half hours.

Now the stump could fetch between £4,000 ($5,225/€4,500) and £6,000 ($8,000/€6,500).

Estimated to earn twice as much is the shirt worn a few months earlier by West Indies' Michael Holding in Barbados when he bowled Sir Geoffrey for a duck at the end of one of Test cricket's most famous overs.

The bat Sir Geoffrey used in Delhi in December 1981 to overhaul Sir Garry Sobers' Test record of 8,032 runs is also up for auction.

In total, 130 bats are being put up for auction, with bidding opening yesterday and due to end on November 16.

Sir Geoffrey claimed the reason he was selling the items was because of lack of space and he wanted cricket fans to be able to share in his memories.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott's historic bat he used to score the 100th century of his career against Australia at Headingley in 1977 is estimated to fetch up to £50,000 ©Christie's London
Sir Geoffrey Boycott's historic bat he used to score the 100th century of his career against Australia at Headingley in 1977 is estimated to fetch up to £50,000 ©Christie's London

"I personally don’t have space to show all my mementoes and memorabilia," Sir Geoffrey told The Cricketer magazine.

"For many years they have been in boxes and suitcases not seen by anyone.

"Better cricket lovers, admirers and collectors have the opportunity to enjoy them."

Sir Geoffrey is even resigned to selling the bat with which he made history.

"It’s been with Yorkshire County Cricket Club in their museum, but the club has so little space under the Members Pavilion," he told The Cricketer.

"The museum is only open on match days, so very few people see it.

"The fact that I achieved [the 100th hundred] at all and that it was at Headingley in front of my home supporters - and that it was against Australia - made it unique.

"I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day.

"[It] is very special and I have insured it over the years, but it is only worth what someone wishes to pay for it."

To view the full auction click here.