The debut Test cap of Chris Harris turns up on auction website a decade after it was stolen
Kiwi's stolen cap found on auction site
Former New Zealand cricketer Chris Harris has been reunited with his stolen debut Test cap after it was put up for sale on an auction website.
The former Black Caps allrounder lost the cap some 10 years ago when his house was burgled and no doubt had lost hope of ever seeing the precious item again.
That was until this week, when Harris received several phone calls after the cap appeared on New Zealand auction website 'Trade Me'.
The cap was presented on a wooden box alongside two cricket balls, with a plate on the box reading 'CZ Harris, No 181, NEW ZEALAND vs SRI LANKA 1992/93'.
The highest bidder had offered $1310 for the item, but it was removed from the website by the seller on Thursday.
Harris then contacted Trade Me and the item has been returned to its rightful owner.
"Our house was burgled years ago and I reported it stolen at the time, this would have been about 10 years ago," Harris told stuff.co.nz.
"It was one of the bizarre things that was stolen that day, it was pretty personal as it had my name on it too.
Image Id: ~/media/C1E50FE948404F37B90D67AC1533259F Image Caption: Chris Harris played 23 Tests for New Zealand // Getty Images"I've had a few calls about it since the item was listed and after the story and Trade Me have been brilliant, they've got it back to me. I'm pretty rapt about it."
The identity of the seller, and how they came to acquire Harris's cap, is not clear.
Trade Me spokesman Paul Ford said the site's trust and safety unit had asked the seller why the item was removed after the bidding had started.
"He told us he was had pulled it as he was a little unclear about its provenance (ownership)," Ford said.
Ford said Trade Me worked with police in "any way we could" if there are any concerns about a stolen item being listed.
Harris played 23 Tests and 250 one-day internationals for New Zealand in a 14-year career at the top, which ended in 2004.