posted Sep 18, 2008

I couldn't remember Gooch's stats against the Windies - I agree that an average of 44 is a pace-happy average. Mind you. Gooch is another player who was given a massive number of chances but a rare player who seemed to thrive on the England captaincy. I don't agree that Lamb didn't fit - he was a close mate of Botham & the rest of the establishment & also a very close friend of the late Earl Spencer.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

"Robin Smith didn't produce the runs at county level which would have demanded a recall to test cricket."

You're right - he did produce at Test level though.

He stopped scoring hundreds sadly, but was worth his place in the side on grit alone. The year he was dropped was after the WI series where he was the only player to stand up to Ambrose et al on that horrible Edgbaston track and an SA series where he was second in the averages to Atherton.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

Cricket aside, I was lucky enough to run into Hick and Botham outside Lords in 91 as part of a touring team and despite there being a dozen or so annoying 16-17 yr old Aussie kids, they were both very generous with their time and Hick in particular had a good chat, gave autographs and posed for photos with us. Seemed like a really nice guy, class on and off the ground, it's a shame his test career didn't reach the heights it deserved.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

Although not a Worcs supporter, I would agree that just about everyone felt that Hick was a genuinely decent guy & I wish him well in the future. He certainly should have been retained in the one-day side even when his test form was poor & that was definitely poor man-management & selection even though I feel sports psychology for adults may rank with huge payouts for emergency forces who have attended an accident even though the armed forces are treated so shabbily when they are maimed for life - I think I've gone on to a political rant!

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posted Sep 18, 2008

Why so opposed to sports psychology for adults? I tell you, if more adults actually underwent psychotherapy, this world would be a lot better than it is now.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

In my memories

I also forgot Hick and Moody's brilliant partnership in the 1994 Nat West Final at Lord's to see Worcs home. Moody even hit a six out of the ground.

As for Gooch not performing v West Indies-surely his unbeaten century in 1991 at Headingley is one of the greatest innings ever?

I also remember him scoring a hundred in the only test England drew in 1988 as he staved off their pace attack.

As for Botham v W Indies-well in the 1984 'Blackwash' he averaged 35 with the bat with three 50s-and took nearly 30 wickets with 2 Five fors-including 8-103 at Lord's.
Only he and Lamb came out with any credit from that series.

I feel Hick, Botham, Lamb were and are from a different era. Yes they wanted to win but they enjoyed the game and themselves. An era where snooker players and footballers enjoyed a beer and a laugh.
I feel that type of sportsman is lost in this day and age and sport has become too boring and too serious.

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posted Sep 18, 2008

I would love to see some of these old clips like that 1994 final on youtube.

Very few old cricket clips exist there.

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posted Sep 23, 2008

Personally I believe Hick emigrated to the wrong country. Had he gone to Australia where they have been so far ahead of us in nearly all departments they would have gotten inside Hicks head found out if there was a problem and fixed it.

Steve Waugh's start to Test cricket was also pretty poor and had he been an Englishman he wouldn't have had a Test career, thankfully for him he was an Aussie and went onto be one of the best and most belliegerent batsmen of all time.

I still remember that 98no declaration against Australia, to whoever made that decision all I can say is you bonehead, you utter utter utter bonehead. Bonehead!

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posted Sep 23, 2008

Interesting theory bayboy. Judging from some of his comments, Hick seems pretty content with family life and probably happy not to have been 'hardened' if thats the right word.

Still, we'd have gladly taken him, it's an interesting thing to ponder.

The declaration was Atherton wasn't it????

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posted Sep 28, 2008

Hick is a bloke who has a very good Test future behind him.
I feel the long delay qualifying for England was the main problem. There were excessive expectations and this often makes a difficult job ultra difficult.
Let's salute a great cricketer, and enjoy the fact that one person was able to score so many hundreds. I'd settle for one.

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