I read today that Graeme Hick has finally decided to call it a day after 25 seasons in the English county game, at the age of 42. I must admit I was never a huge fan but not really because I didn't rate him as a batsman. 41,000 runs, 136 first-class centuries and a career average of more than 50 proves otherwise and he's still scoring at an average of 45 in the County Championship this year.
I recall feeling a bit irritated at the way English cricket and the media were chomping at the bit to have the chance of picking the prolific young Zimbabwean once his residential qualification had been served. Hmm, sounds a bit familiar with echoes of KP today! The 80s and 90s saw a lot of Southern African and Australasian-born players getting their chance in England, with mixed success but I have to admit Graeme Hick didn't seem to be a mercenary. A quarter of a century served at one club, Worcestershire, shows he is a proud and loyal servant, and it's an attitude to be applauded. Maybe it's because he wasn't a sparkling performer in media interviews but that's true of 99% of all sportsmen! Also I don't think I ever forgave him for scoring 405 not out against Somerset on his way to the rare achievement of 1000 first-class runs by the end of May....
Everyone who's been around cricket in the past 20 years probably has an opinion on whether Hick was badly treated by the selectors or was just not up to the rigours of Test cricket. Like Mark Ramprakash, I do feel he wasn't given enough support at Test level because at county level he was head and shoulders above all but a few batsmen for at least 15 years. A great slip fielder, too. However, he did play 65 Tests and 120 ODIs, albeit with only a mediocre average, and he never seemed to complain.
Anyway, it will seem strange to think I shall peruse the county scoreboards in the 'papers next summer and find the Worcestershire innings missing the short and sweet name of GA Hick. He may not go down as one of the all-time greats of international cricket but when it comes to the domestic scene, he's probably the most successful England-qualified batsman of my lifetime, a good player to watch, classical in style yet capable of taking apart most attacks, Curtly Ambrose and Wasim Akram being notable exceptions. I hope he enjoys his retirement from playing and has the chance to help bring on more talented cricketers for future generations.
I recall feeling a bit irritated at the way English cricket and the media were chomping at the bit to have the chance of picking the prolific young Zimbabwean once his residential qualification had been served. Hmm, sounds a bit familiar with echoes of KP today! The 80s and 90s saw a lot of Southern African and Australasian-born players getting their chance in England, with mixed success but I have to admit Graeme Hick didn't seem to be a mercenary. A quarter of a century served at one club, Worcestershire, shows he is a proud and loyal servant, and it's an attitude to be applauded. Maybe it's because he wasn't a sparkling performer in media interviews but that's true of 99% of all sportsmen! Also I don't think I ever forgave him for scoring 405 not out against Somerset on his way to the rare achievement of 1000 first-class runs by the end of May....
Everyone who's been around cricket in the past 20 years probably has an opinion on whether Hick was badly treated by the selectors or was just not up to the rigours of Test cricket. Like Mark Ramprakash, I do feel he wasn't given enough support at Test level because at county level he was head and shoulders above all but a few batsmen for at least 15 years. A great slip fielder, too. However, he did play 65 Tests and 120 ODIs, albeit with only a mediocre average, and he never seemed to complain.
Anyway, it will seem strange to think I shall peruse the county scoreboards in the 'papers next summer and find the Worcestershire innings missing the short and sweet name of GA Hick. He may not go down as one of the all-time greats of international cricket but when it comes to the domestic scene, he's probably the most successful England-qualified batsman of my lifetime, a good player to watch, classical in style yet capable of taking apart most attacks, Curtly Ambrose and Wasim Akram being notable exceptions. I hope he enjoys his retirement from playing and has the chance to help bring on more talented cricketers for future generations.
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