A man who stumbled upon the grave of one of England’s greatest-ever cricketers in Buckinghamshire has started a campaign to get it restored.

John Thomas Hearne, who was best known as J.T. Hearne, was born in Chalfont St Giles in the 1800s and spent his entire playing career with Middlesex, representing the outfit for an incredible 35 years.

Retiring at the age of 56 in 1923, Hearne became the first member of the Middlesex committee before travelling the world on several tours.

His current wickets total of 3,061 (for both club and country) is the greatest for any bowler of medium pace or above.

The bowler also achieved a hat-trick in the first-ever Test at Headingley in 1899, three years after he won the Ashes with England.

After passing away in April 1944, three weeks before his 77th birthday, Hearne was laid to rest in his hometown of Chalfont St Giles.

Now, a resident is hoping to get the gravestone restored 81 years after it was first erected at the village’s parish church.

Tony Ferugson, who is on the board of the Chalfont St Giles Church Friends group, which organises talks and events in the area, said: “I discovered Jack (J.T. Hearne) in my research for a talk I was giving last week on the Triduum of Remembrance- Halloween, All Saints and All Souls have traditionally been a time for commemoration in a combination of Christian devotion and pagan ritual.

“Jack lies in the eastern side of the churchyard at Chalfont St Giles Parish Church, under a small Celtic cross with barely discernible lettering.

“I was aware of his local history, but not all of it.

“I couldn’t believe it.”

He is now hoping to launch a ‘Save the Graves’ campaign, in which other members of the public would be able to help restore eroded tombstones, as well as help with the upkeep of several graveyards in the area.

The volunteer is hoping to find like minded people, as well as experts in the cleaving field, who will be able to help him in this quest.

He added: “It’s heartbreaking.

“We have a few of us that help look after the one in Chalfont St Giles, but the average age of us is around 75 years old.

“We’re worried that when we pass on, who will keep it up?”

He concluded: “It’s all about care.

“If you care about it, do something about it.

“You are never too old [to help] and you might find a kindred spirit in the graveyard when doing the upkeep.”