When Obiter called Paola Fudakowska, solicitor at City firm Withers, she admitted feeling a bit ropey. ‘We had a fundraiser last night – wine-tasting at Vivat Bacchus.’ Such are the hardships one must suffer on the way to Everest base camp.

Fudakowska (pictured) is one of a 50-strong expedition of cricketers and accompanying ‘trektators’ who, next Tuesday, will try to set a world record for the highest official sports match at 5,165 metres.

Two teams of 15 will slog it out at an Everest base camp on 21 April. England captain Andrew Strauss (for Team Tenzing) and England vice-captain Alastair Cook (for Team Hillary) have already lent their support as honorary (but non-travelling) skippers. The Nokia Maps Everest Test 2009 expedition includes four lawyers.

Sports fans will have noticed that cricket teams are usually an ‘XI’ rather than a rugby-like ‘XV’. There is a reason this team needs four more players, as the official expedition website explains: ‘Each squad is made up of 15 players to allow for squad members affected by altitude sickness en route to the plateau.’ In light of this, Obiter wishes everyone the strength of 10,000 sherpas.

Participants hope to raise £250,000, to be split between Sir Edmund Hillary’s charity, the Himalayan Trust UK, which funds infrastructure projects for sherpas, and the Lord’s Taverners, which helps disadvantaged youngsters enjoy cricket and other sporting activities.