Cricket: Hick eager to face Black Caps

At 38, Graeme Hick thought his days of international cricket had long gone, but the former Northern Districts player is excited about the prospect of taking on New Zealand with the World 11.

"I'm delighted," he said from England this week.

"It's brilliant but it's come as a bit of a surprise. I've not played international cricket for a few years."

The Worcestershire professional expects to be a bit rusty, given that he hasn't played since the English season ended in September.

"Obviously I haven't picked up a bat for a few months but hopefully it will be a good series and I can contribute," he said.

Hick will not have much time to acclimatise, flying in tomorrow with the first game on Saturday at Jade Stadium in Christchurch.

However, he has recent experience of the New Zealand bowling attack, plundering an unbeaten 204 from 204 balls in their tour match against Worcestershire last year.

Hick has an incredible first-class record, scoring 37,505 runs at an average of 53.5, including 126 centuries.

However, the Zimbabwe-born player never cracked it at test level, although he played 65 tests for England, making six centuries and averaging 31.32.

His one-day career for England was markedly more successful, spanning 120 games at a very respectable 37.33, although he last turned out in a one-day international in 2001.

Hick said he was looking forward to returning to Westpac Park, his home ground during the two seasons he played for Northern Districts in the late 1980s, where the third game of the series will be played.

He fashioned an outstanding record, scoring 2055 runs at 79.03, including a record for Northern Districts of six centuries in one season.

Hick also holds the record for the most runs scored for Northern Districts in a season -- 1228 at the Bradmanesque 94.46.

"The ground has obviously changed a lot but hopefully there will be a few people still around involved in ND cricket from when I was there and I can catch up with them," he said.

The New Zealand team will be hoping he doesn't strike such form on this visit to the country but ominously his last season was his best for a few years.

"I'm playing a good standard of cricket and got some good runs last season so I was pleased with that and pleased to be asked to play in this series."

Despite gearing up for his 21st year of first-class cricket, Hick said there was no thought of retirement.

"It will come to me one day that I've had enough but I'm still enjoying playing and I've got another couple of years in me yet."

- NZPA