By Tom Fordyce BBC Sport Online

Maybe, as a cricket fan, you've always wanted to play on the hallowed turf at Lord's.

No more do you have to worry about a patent lack of ability or the restraining arms of some jumped-up steward.

On Thursday, the MCC will put chunks of the Lord's outfield on sale to the general public, giving ordinary punters the chance to own a piece of cricket history for a mere �10.

You could replicate this scene in your back garden

The entire outfield is being ripped up this autumn in an attempt to make the ground less susceptible to flooding.

The MCC have long been concerned about the heavy London clay beneath the pitch, which means rainwater is slower to drain away than at other Test match venues.

So the clay beneath the turf will be replaced with faster-draining sandy soil to alleviate the problem - and the old turf sold off to help pay for the work.

Each 30cm by 30cm piece comes packaged in a box, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

There's no guarantee which part of the ground your chunk came from - whether it was the micro-scene for a moment of cricketing history or merely a grassy bystander to nearby famous deeds.

But, with the correct treatment and level of gardening skill, it could surely be used as the basis for any back garden.

Spurs charged more for the penalty area

And if you do want to splash out and re-turf your entire lawn with the MCC's finest, the club are offering bulk discounts to large-scale purchasers.

Being the MCC, of course, the public at large come second to the stripy tie brigade.

The club's own membership have already had the chance to snap up the bits they want.

Still, it could have been worse. When Spurs sold off the pitch at White Hart Lane earlier this summer, key areas of the pitch cost more than other areas.

The centre spot and both penalty spots required a minimum cash donation of �50, with the four corners �30 each.

Then again, you got a full square foot of Tottenham turf for your tenner rather than the measly portion you get at cricket's HQ.

Those interested in snagging a slice of Lord's should arrive at the ground's North Gate, off Wellington Place, between 10.30 BST and 15.30 BST on Thursday 5 or Friday 6 September.

Customers, insists the MCC somewhat sniffily, are reminded that payment must be in cash only.