Hick's role reversal
Peter English of the Guardian prods Graeme Hick, now a high performance coach in Brisbane, about working for the old enemy and how he would arrest the problems faced by Australia in recent times
20-Oct-2013
Graeme Hick being in-charge of moulding young batsmen is hardly a surprise. In fact, one might well have expected that when he retired after playing his 526th first-class match five years ago. The kicker, though, is Hick is plying his trade as high performance coach at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. Peter English of the Guardian prods the former England batsman about working for the old enemy and how he would arrest the problems faced by Australia in recent times
"There has to be a desire to spend time at the crease and want to be that person who scores the majority of the runs," he says. Hick's first century came at school when he was six. He thinks compulsory retirement after scoring 25 or 40 in a junior game restricts development. "I'm very much against that," he says. "It's everywhere now." Cricket is in decline as a participation sport in Australia, so the no-retirement idea will probably not catch on. But the lack of application is clear across all levels, especially to Hick.