Media manager Belinda Dennet said she saw a shadowy figure outside her window at the Lumley Castle Hotel, close to the Chester-le-Street ground.

Hotel management said it could be the resident ghost, Lily of Lumley, who was murdered there in the 14th century.

However the team themselves insist they are not afraid and are happy to stay.

Ms Dennet was staying in a room just off the downstairs courtyard, close to the well where the murdered Lily was thrown.

'Frequent sightings'

She said: "I was scared. I definitely saw something, a shadowy figure. It was either a ghost or someone looking through my window at 4am."

However, the fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz denied he or his team mates were frightened.

He said: "I'm not afraid. I encourage any ghost out there to come and see me. Please come and say g'day, and we will sit down and have a beer or coffee and talk things through."

John Dobbs, the hotel's operations director, said the ghost had been sighted frequently in the past.

"Lily was the first wife of Sir Ralph Lumley. While he was away she was murdered by two priests who threw her body down a well, but she keeps coming back and visiting our guests and staff.

"However, I'm sure there's no ghosts in Australia. They don't have castles there."