The greatest cricketer of his age was often to be seen playing at an obscure privately owned ground deep in the heart of Sussex.

Dr WG Grace struck up a surprising friendship with the third Earl of Sheffield, a bachelor who had a huge passion for the game.

The ground at Sheffield Park, near Horsted Keynes, was created in 1845 by the second Earl for his son, then 13, and was first used for a match between two local villages, Fletching and Chailey.

On succeeding to the title, he transformed it from a village to an international ground. Often the Australians would open their tour with a game there against Lord Sheffield’s XI.

From 1883, Grace would often bring down his own team of celebrated players to the well-appointed ground, where they enjoyed the Earl’s hospitality. Among them were the Sussex international players Ranji and Fry.

One match against Australia, in May 1896, was attended by 25,000 people, including the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII). Banners lined the route up from the railway to the garden and no expense was spared.

Lord Sheffield had a number of pavilions built around the ground for his guests and visiting players to use. Two were very lavishly designed, made out of cast ironwork, painted blue with details picked out in gold.

The ground was also used to entertain local people. On May Days, Lord Sheffield would feed large groups of visitors. He once provided a mile-long picnic for local Sunday schoolchildren.

In 1896, it was the scene of a well-known story when fast bowler Ernest Jones sent down a shorter which went through Grace’s huge beard. When WG remonstrated, Jones simply replied, “Sorry doctor, she slipped.”

The ground is used today by a local team, the Armadillos, and is open to visitors to Sheffield Park, now owned by the National Trust.

Lord Sheffield was MP for East Sussex, president of Sussex County Cricket Club and a leading MCC member.

He arranged and financed the 1891 to 92 England tour to Australia. While there, he donated £150 to support Australian cricket, which was used to buy the Sheffield Shield. This trophy is still played for in Australia today.

But the Earl was a shy man who often travelled to matches on his own to avoid crowds. The publicity was dealt with by Grace, an unmistakeable figure wherever cricket was played.

Australian papers succeeded in finding the Earl and one called him a fat stumpy man who would make a fine landlord of a bush pub.

Of even more interest was the deal Grace negotiated as captain to tour Australia for £3,000, far more than anyone else. His wife and two children travelled with him.

The Earl agreed to pay it without a murmur and liked Australia so much he took an extended holiday in Tasmania. Sadly Grace lost the Test series and with it the Ashes, although the cricket was entertaining and watched by record crowds.

Lord Sheffield died aged 77 in 1903 in France. On his death, the earldom became extinct but his name lives on in both Sussex and Australia.