THERE was only one W G Grace, wasn't there? Well, no. There were two if you can consider what is regarded as the greatest spoof in cricket and involved Major E G Wynard DSO - affectionally known as Teddy - who impersonated the great man at a match.

Wynard, the former Hampshire and MCC captain whose sporting career was heavily restricted by military service, was an instructor at Sandhurst College when

he came up with the stunt to play Grace as part of a visiting side.

So to look the part, he was fitted with a big black beard and padding to provide the extra girth.

Wynard spoke with high-pitched voice and jerky sentences and exaggerated the batting strokes and tetchiness synonymous with the founding figure of the game.

The amateur dramatics were enhanced by Leo Trevor, regarded as one of the finest amateur actors of the time, who partnered him at the crease.

They proved so effective that a lovable old clergyman, who had witnessed the start of play at the college's ground, cycled home in such a state of excitement that he persuaded his entire family to join him and witness what they had never seen before and almost certainly would not see the like of it again.

He hired a trap which he could ill-afforfd and crammed eight of them into it, he returned with them to wonderland.

Cadets, who cared less than tuppence for cricket, gladly forfeited their free time as Wynard batted through the morning session with impudent ease.

The story goes the impersonation continued over lunch when the cadets' captain sat next to Wynard. He belonged to his company and had been coached by him at work and play over several weeks - yet never suspected his true identity.

It was until the match had ended that Wynard confessed to the astonished clergyman who took it in great heart, even more so when he repaid his family's expenses!

The jape was entirely appropriate for someone born on April Fools Day!

Wynard, who first saw the light of day in 1861 and was educated at Charterhouse public school, was a brilliant sportsman, excelling at cricket.

A right hand batsman, he captained the MCC for their tour to New Zealand but snapped a tendon after the third test and had to return home. He also played against South Africa but had to decline two tours to Australia because of his military duty.

A superb slip fieldsman, he was a fine free hitter, especially in front of the wicket, and developed a unique way of hitting left arm bowlers over cover. He scored more than 8,000 first class runs and with Major R M Moore scored 225 not out in six wicket partnership for Hampshire against Somerset, a record that has never been surpassed.

When batting, he wore A Zingari cap befittingly balanced at military angle.

A talented footballer, he played for Old Carthusians who won the 1881 FA Cup final at the Kennington Oval.

He died on October 30, 1936.