HE'S the schoolboy who is hoping to bring Hampshire's top cricketers all the luck they need to bring home one of the game's top prizes later today.

Young James Wheeler will be the envy of all his school mates when he leads out the county at Lord's today for one of the biggest cricket matches of the season.

Seven-year-old James will take to the field with his hero, captain Shane Warne, in front of 28,000 fans packed into the famous stands at the home of cricket.

Thanks to the Daily Echo, in conjunction with the county club and competition sponsors Friends Provident, the Bitterne Infant School pupil won the chance to be the Hampshire Hawks' mascot for today's Trophy Final - the equivalent of football's FA Cup Final - against the Durham Dynamos.

James will be introduced to legendary Australian leg-spinner Warne and the rest of the team in the dressing room before the start of the match.

Then he will lead Hampshire on to the pitch with a signed shirt to keep as a souvenir of his big day.

James, from Bitterne, who plays cricket for Hursley Park under-nines, will be watched from the stands by his parents Chris, Hampshire's under-tens coach, and police officer mum Helen, with older brother Nick, 15.

James said: "I can't wait. It's brilliant. My brother's met some of the players at Hampshire but never Shane Warne. He's the best of all.

"I'm really happy, because I think he's really good.

"I'm so excited. I've never been to Lord's before and I really hope Hampshire win."

Dad Chris said: "We were already going to the game but James was going to be staying behind, so this is a real bonus.

"Obviously, it's a dream come true for him.

"He's a big fan of Shane Warne and has been jumping off the walls since finding out he'd been chosen!"