Now fans have the opportunity to clinch their own piece of cricket history when the outfield is cut up and sold off.

The outfield in north London is being re-laid in the autumn to make it less prone to flooding.

Cricket lovers can pick up the turf, some of which dates back to 1787 and the first Lord's ground at nearby Dorset Square, for �10 per square foot.

The turf will be sold in a special box accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

Those with space for a larger lawn will get a discount for buying in bulk.

The Marylebone Cricket Club have long been concerned about the heavy London clay beneath the pitch, which means rainwater is slower to drain away than at other Test match venues.

The clay beneath the turf will be replaced with faster-draining sandy soil to alleviate the problem.

The MCC hopes to raise enough money through turf sales to cover the �1.25m cost of the project.

Famous patches

Initially MCC members will be able to purchase the grass, and if any turf remains, it will go on sale to the general public.

"It's very early days as the letter to MCC members outlining the plans only arrived on their doorsteps late last week," MCC communications director Iain Wilton said.

"But we do expect there to be a lot of interest as it is a unique opportunity to buy a bit of cricket history.

"The Lord's ground is universally known as the `hallowed turf' and initially our members, and potentially the wider public, will be able to buy some of that for their own gardens or grounds."

It is not the first time famous patches of sporting grass have been turned into gold.

The sale in 2000 of around 30,000 chunks of turf from Wembley, the scene of England's 1966 World Cup triumph, raised thousands of pounds for sporting clubs and charities.