Hertfordshire county cricketers will come up against batting legend Brian Lara at Lord’s on Sunday and PE teacher Simon White says he’ll have to bowl “the ball of his life” to dismiss the former West Indies star.

Lara, who holds the world record for both the highest Test score of 400 and first-class score of 501, will be the main attraction on what will be a special day.

The Hertfordshire side are playing a Marylebone Cricket Club team in a repeat of the very first match at Lord’s, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary.

Lara, who scored 11,953 Test runs at an average of 52.88 in a 131-Test career is joined in a strong MCC side by former South Africa batsman Dale Benkenstein and ex-England left-arm spinner Min Patel.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” said White, who is head of PE at Rickmansworth School.

“I found out that I had been selected at the end of last week and while you’re hopeful you’ll get in, you’re never 100 per cent sure.

“So I am really happy to be chosen and it is going to be a great day and a great occasion for everyone.

“Lara is a cricket legend and as a bowler I am really hoping I have the chance to bowl against him. There is not too much thought about how I’ll try to get him out, it will be a case of just trying different things to get him on the day.

“I am hoping to bowl that ball of a lifetime and it would be unbelievable to take Brian Lara’s wicket.”

White, who plays for Harpenden and has previously represented Welwyn Garden City and St Albans, accepts the Herts side will face a difficult challenge at Lord’s but says the team are not just going to make up the numbers.

He said: “We want to put on the best show we can and there is no doubt we are going there to win the match rather than just enjoy the occasion.

“I’ve been a part of the Hertfordshire squad since 1995 and am now one of the older players in the side. But to play at Lord’s is a dream come true, I think that is the case for any cricketer.

“It’s just very exciting and hopefully we can do well for Hertfordshire.”

He continued: “We’re obviously not as big as some of the northern counties in terms of support but we have a good group of supporters and you do see the same faces at games.

“I’m sure they’ll be there again at the weekend and maybe we can perform well and get a few more supporters.”

Sunday’s game starts at 2pm, with the gates opening at noon. There are a host of festivities and activities in addition to the game.

Entry is £10 for adults and £5 for Under-16s, and 500 tickets for the historic pavilion will be available on the day.