A grave saga has finished with a tremendous result at the final Hampshire resting place of one of cricket’s most important figures.

It’s been another Ashes to forget with England narrowly avoiding a whitewash in Australia.

But a clean-up has been welcomed in West Meon, as the grave of Thomas Lord has been restored to its former glory following a chance encounter in the churchyard.

Thomas, a wine merchant and bowler who founded Lord’s Cricket Ground, was 76 when he died in West Meon in 1832 having retired to the village two years earlier.

His grave used to be cleaned annually by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) but the practice has ceased in recent years for reasons unknown.

Things changed last summer when Tyne & Wear couple Anne and Roger Jezard met verger Michael Johnson in the churchyard during a visit to the former family home.

Anne routinely visits West Meon as she and her sister were born in Chappets Farm in the 1920s while some of her family are buried in the grounds of St John’s.

They were disappointed to see the state of Lord’s grave with other villagers sharing their views.

The ball started rolling in June when the Jezards met Mr Johhson, who welcomed their interest and revealed that other villagers and cricketing pilgrims who specifically visited West Meon had raised the same concerns.

Mr Johnson encouraged the Jezards to contact the CEO of MCC at Lord’s, enclosing pictures of Thomas’s grave in a bid to get the club to renew cleaning.

The swiftness of the response took everyone by surprise with the legal counsel to the MCC contacting Michael.

Mr Johnson said: “Anne said ‘I think we need to write to the CEO’ but I didn’t expect anything.

“The letter went to the CEO and within about seven days we had a letter back saying ‘I think this is important and I will inspect the grave myself and get our people to do something about it.

“Sure enough, the stonemason from Blackwell’s came down in September. They acted expeditiously and what they’ve done is beyond everyone’s expectations.”

“Once we were informed of the condition of the grave of Thomas Lord, our Ground’s founder, and having seen photographs of the gravestone, we felt it necessary to take action,” said Rob Lawson, CEO and Secretary of the MCC.

“The result, which met with the approval of the Church Warden and the local Parish Council, is outstanding.

“I hope this may inspire some of our Members to consider a visit to West Meon to honour the memory of the great man, and we would of course consider doing the same in future, should the need arise.”

The innings took another turn when Charlie Tuck, a Yorkshireman and cricketer, told Michael that he wanted to be buried 22 yards from Thomas’s grave, shortly ahead of its restoration.

Sadly, Mr Tuck did die not long after his request but his dying wish was granted as a plot was available at the right spot.