IT WAS the dream of Newclose benefactor and patron, the late Brian Gardener, to see top players grace the picturesque Isle of Wight cricket ground.

It was a dream which came true, with no less than 31 test stars performing on its pristine turf before this year.

Stars from across the cricketing nations, such as England’s legendary bowler Stuart Broad, West Indian Fidel Edwards, India’s Ajinkya Rahane, Kiwi all-rounder Chris Harris and Pakistan’s Mohammed Yousef have delighted cricket fans from across the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight County Press: Australian test cricketers together — from left: Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris at Newclose in June 1985, just before The Ashes.Australian test cricketers together — from left: Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Chris Rogers and Ryan Harris at Newclose in June 1985, just before The Ashes.

Among the Australian contingent to play at Newclose — given official Hampshire Cricket outground status last year — were four members of their Ashes squad of 2015.

Part of the Elite International Cricket Academy (EICA), they were all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Ryan Harris, wicketkeeper Peter Nevill and batsman, Chris Rogers.

They came to Newclose on June 18 that year for an EICA warm-up match against a Hampshire second XI.

The match had great significance in building the reputation of Newclose in the eyes of the Hampshire Cricket management — rewarded with the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire last year, the first on the Island in 57 years.

Isle of Wight County Press: Australian test cricketer Peter Nevill, behind the stumps to Hampshire’s Joe Gatting.Australian test cricketer Peter Nevill, behind the stumps to Hampshire’s Joe Gatting.

But it was also significant in the pre-Ashes preparations of the Aussies.

As the 2015 cricket season started, English cricket fans were looking forward to another mouthwatering Ashes battle.

Island cricket fans already had a taste of what the Aussies were about when Travis head played for Ventnor at Newclose.

The U19 international was one of many young Australian cricketers who came to the UK to play club cricket, with Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl the base for some of them as members of the EICA — training there during the week, then joining various league clubs to play competitively on and adapt to English pitches, very different to those Down Under.

Isle of Wight County Press: Newclose trustee, Hugh Griffiths.Newclose trustee, Hugh Griffiths.

Towards the end of May, Newclose heard from Hampshire secretary, Tim Tremlett, the seconds would like to use the ground for a two-day match against the EICA.

But unexpectedly came the news some of the Australian Ashes test squad needed some match practice — in particular, Ryan Harris, and possibly a few more — and could be playing at Newclose.

Harris a high-profile performer who, when he retired from international cricket, had played in 27 test matches and 21 one-day games.

Having taken 113 test wickets, he is one of a special group to have passed the 100 mark.

Isle of Wight County Press: Aussie all-rounder, Ryan Harris, performed at Newclose in readiness for the 2015 Ashes series.Aussie all-rounder, Ryan Harris, performed at Newclose in readiness for the 2015 Ashes series.

Harris, rusty after knee surgery, needed to warm-up in English conditions to put himself in contention for the test series.

While there were doubts over Harris’s fitness for The Ashes, Rogers was a near certainty to be Australia’s opening batsman, with Marsh and Nevill both in with a good chance of selection.

Come the match, the players of both teams formed the Harris’s XI and Rogers’s XI.

No ECB umpires were allocated, so Islanders Roy Cooper and Mike Blackman stepped in.

Isle of Wight County Press: Aussie opener, Chris Rogers, played at Newclose in 2015 and went on to hit a century against England at Lord's.Aussie opener, Chris Rogers, played at Newclose in 2015 and went on to hit a century against England at Lord's.

After Joe Gatting (of Hampshire and Brighton FC), the nephew of former England skipper Mike Gatting, made a ton, spectators saw the class of Rogers, who went on to score 173 and 49 not out in their winning Ashes test at Lord’s.

The Newclose match was a memorable one for Roy Cooper.

He recounted, with amusement, his conversation with Harris early in the bowler’s opening spell from the pavilion end.

Roy, umpiring at a level somewhat above what he was used to, was trying to get used to the extra speed at which the test players bowled.

Harris had asked him to keep and eye on his front foot so as not to be no-balled for overstepping.

Isle of Wight County Press: Brian Gardener, the benefactor of Newclose County Cricket ground on the Isle of Wight.Brian Gardener, the benefactor of Newclose County Cricket ground on the Isle of Wight.

As Roy acknowledged the request, Rogers, the non-striking batsman, chipped in with: “Good idea ump — I don’t want to be given out to a no-ball.”

Watching Harris’s next ball, Roy was so focused on the bowler’s front foot, that by the time he looked up, the ball was being taken by the wicketkeeper, appealing for a catch.

It happened so fast and without the sound of an edge, for a moment Roy was in the most tricky of situations, among Australian cricketers not renowned for patience and understanding.

“Thankfully, the Hampshire batsman, Tom Alsop, did something no Australian batsman, apart from Adam Gilchrist, would have done — he walked,” said Roy.

The match ended in a draw, with the Rogers XI scoring 282 all out and 147-5, while the Harris XI hit 306 all out and 108-2.

The umpiring and playing surface came in for significant praise.

Rogers, Nevill and Marsh went on to play in the Ashes Test Matches, while Harris failed to fully recover from his knee surgery in time for the first test and subsequently retired from the test arena.

Hugh added: “Brian Gardener would have loved to have seen test cricketers playing on the ground he created.

“Like me, as an MCC member, Brian would have been at Lord’s a month later to see Rogers, Marsh and Nevill play their part in Australia’s 405-run victory over England.

“Unlike me, he was spared that pain.

“He would, however, have been quietly proud Rogers’s two innings were, in part, a result of him acclimatising to English conditions at Newclose.”