The event has been organised by Shropshire County Cricket Club to raise funds towards the cost of a tour to Barbados next month for Wrekin College’s cricket and netball teams.

Mr Coney, awarded an MBE for services to cricket in 1986, played 52 Test matches for New Zealand and 88 one day internationals. He is now a cricket commentator for Sky Sports.

He is heading to Wrekin College on Thursday, March 20 for an event which begins at noon and a limited number of tickets are still available.

Shropshire CCC chairman Toby Shaw said: “Wrekin College have been very generous to the county in terms of allowing us to host our annual Resource Bank Twenty20 match against an Invitational XI and this is a thank you by helping them to support this lunch.

“We have more than 170 people coming and we would like to think we would probably get up close to the 200 mark.

“It is something different as events like these are usually held in the evening, but we have decided to have it at lunchtime and we are very pleased to have secured Jeremy Coney as guest speaker.

“We are looking forward to it and it will be Barbados themed.”

Tickets priced £45 each or £450 for a table of 10 are available from Toby Shaw on (01743) 243900.