Worcestershire legend Graeme Hick is relishing the chance to return to New Road – a ground he graced as a batsman for 25 years – with the Australian Under-19 squad next summer.
Hick, now aged 48, is a high performance coach at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane with a responsibility for developing and implementing a national batting programme and working with development teams.
He will be with the Under-19s for their One-Day International against their England counterparts at New Road on Saturday, August 22.
Hick, who played 65 Tests for England, scored 136 first class centuries and 158 half centuries in amassing 41,112 first class runs at an average of 52.23 in addition to 22,059 List A runs at an average of 41.30.
He played his final game for Worcestershire in a Pro40 League match against Middlesex at Kidderminster in 2008 batting at number five.
Skipper Daryl Mitchell and Gareth Andrew are the only members of that side in the current squad at New Road.
Hick is guaranteed a warm welcome and said: "I'm really excited and looking forward to returning to the club in a cricketing capacity.
"New Road is place that means a great deal to me and my family.
"It gave me my opportunity when I was starting out so, in some way, it is great to coming back with a talented group of players that are starting out with their careers ahead of them.
"That all said, I'm most looking forward to seeing the changes at the ground and the 'New Road Family'.
"It is a special place with special people, and I'm looking forward to another piece of cake from the ladies pavilion!"
