Hick Appointed Australia’s Batting Coach

Former England Test batsman Graeme Hick has been appointed as Australia’s batting coach for the next four seasons. Hick joins head coach Darren Lehmann, fielding coach Greg Blewett and new bowling coach David Saker in the Australia set-up, and will begin his contract at the start of the home Test series against South Africa in November.

For the past three years, Hick has been serving as Cricket Australia’s high performance coach based at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane. At the time of his appointment, Hick preached the need for Australia’s young batsmen to learn patience, instead of always expecting their first-class innings to move at the pace of a limited-overs innings.

In the area of patience, Hick was extremely well qualified, having scored 41,112 first-class runs, 15th on the all-time tally, and he is one of only eight men in history to have scored a quadruple-century in first-class cricket. Hick also played 65 Tests for England from 1991 to 2001.

“Graeme worked with us during the recent ODI tour in the West Indies and we were really impressed with what he brought to the group,” Lehmann said. “He is a very experienced player in all conditions and will bring a wealth of knowledge with him.

“With an ICC Champions Trophy, an Ashes Series and an ICC World Cup all to be played in England in the near future, his knowledge of those conditions will also be invaluable.”

Hick takes on the role as batting coach after it was vacated by Michael di Venuto in February, when he was named as Surrey’s new head coach. Blewett had filled in as batting coach since di Venuto’s departure but will now return to his original position as fielding coach.

Hick said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my current role with Cricket Australia and have worked with some great young up and coming players during my time heading-up the Under-19 program and more recently with the National Performance Squad during the Quadrangular A ODI Series.

Courtesy : espncricinfo