Tears on my pillow

On September 2nd, at a press conference in England, Graeme Hick announced his retirement from first-class cricket at the ripe young age of 42. For the past few years I have been dreading this moment. It was inevitable but with each passing year, my hopes were kept alive just that bit longer. Not any more.

I first remember taking note of Graeme Hick when he scored THAT monumental 405 not out for Worcestershire. The next highest score in the match was 56, and unlike most other matches that feature such big scores, this one produced a victory for Worcestershire. I liked the fact that he hit a six when on 399 and did not mind the declaration that came. In fact, at that time, he did not even know that the record was 499 or else he may have gone on to that, too! I followed him closely over the years and have revelled in the milestones he has crossed along the way; 136 first class centuries, 178 overall, and still counting...albeit for just a couple more weeks. Over 64,000 runs in all forms of the game and 1,007 catches, second all-time for any non-wicket-keeper in the history of the game. Very impressively, as of today, only one batsman has scored more Twenty20 centuries and no other Englishman has hit more sixes! It is rumoured that he will join the ICL once his playing days are totally done. In a bittersweet way I shall look forward to watching him live for the first time since 1993 when I had the pleasure of following his first Test century, a gorgeous 178 at Wankhade Stadium.

As the greatest run accumulator of the past quarter century puts his bat away , the eulogy's on his cricketing career come gushing in to appease me for a few more days.

Andrew Miller on CricInfo, pens a fine piece on a fine gentleman.

The scars of his England experience have long since healed, and the Hick who heads for retirement is a man who knows he gave his all for the sport - and the club - that he loved. Quite what he leaves behind him, however, is another matter entirely. Perhaps his very longevity has perpetuated the era that he helped to define, but without his totemic presence in the first-class averages, there's suddenly a void that may never be adequately filled.

Derek Pringle shared the England dressing room with Hick and has some insight into why the first-class giant failed at the Test level. He ends with this epitaph.

...the disappointments at international level have been counter-balanced by longevity and success in the county game. History tends to mythologise those who burn bright and brief, but it is built by those who stick around and no one has done that in the modern era longer than Hick.

David Foot reminisces about the day Hick scored one of his defining innings - 405 not out - and searches for pointers to explain, yes, yet again, why Hick could not translate his first-class success to the Test level.

An old article by Andrew Miller on the enigmatic Mr. Hick is worth reading again.

And finally, George Dobell, gives a Worcestershire person's perspective on what Hick has meant to the folks at New Road.

One more hero of mine quietly goes away...