THERE will be a rare opportunity to see some legendary international cricketers up close and personal at the Boundary Field in Rockhampton on Friday.

A Lashings World XI side including former England internationals Graeme Hick, Andrew Caddick and John Emburey, will face Rockhampton in a 35-over match.

Also featuring for the star-studded Lashings will be ex-India opening batsman Wasim Jaffer, former Pakistan bowler Mohamed Akram, West Indian pace bowler Tino Best and New Zealander James Marshall - brother of Gloucestershire batsman Hamish.

Lou Vincent, the former New Zealand opening batsman, established a Lashings record last year when he smashed a remarkable 242 from just 93 deliveries and his team-mates will be eager to showcase some similarly explosive hitting for what is expected to be a large local crowd, with tickets available on the door for just £5 for adults and free entry for children.

The Lashings Club, who have helped to raise thousands of pounds for a variety of charities including ACLT, Cystic Fibrosis, MENCAP and Our Forgotten Children, have recently returned from the Emirates Palace Festival in Dubai.

Their 323-run demolition of Test Match Special commentator 'Henry Blofeld's XI' included another blistering double-hundred, this time from skipper Phillip DeFreitas who clubbed 208 from just 62 balls.

For Rockhampton, a club with a history dating back to around 1872, this will be one of the biggest events since a Gloucestershire XI, which included Jack Russell and David Graveney, appeared on the Common in 1983.

Nowadays The Rams are recognised as an ECB Focus Club and ply their cricketing trade in the West of England Premier League Glos/Wilts Division against the likes of Cheltenham, Stroud and Swindon amongst others.

The club has a flourishing youth setup providing coaching and league cricket for kids as young as eight-years-old and now turns out four senior league sides on Saturday afternoons with a Sunday XI and a particularly successful 20/20 side.

The 35-over aside match will get underway at 2.30pm with a wide range of refreshments, bars and a hog roast also available.

There also remain some hospitality tables available for the pre-match dinner which is hosted by the Lashings players with further details at www.rockhamptoncc.com.