Former England batsman Graeme Hick has been appointed the batting coach of the Australian cricket team for the next four seasons. The 50-year-old, who has been working as the Australian cricket board's high performance squad coach, will join head coach Darren Lehmann's support staff, which includes bowling coach David Saker and fielding coach Greg Blewett. Hick's first series in charge will be South Africa's tour of Australia in November.
Hick played 65 Test matches for England, scoring 3,383 runs, but he had a stellar First-Class career in which he scored 41,112 runs. He is also one of only eight batsmen to have hit a quadruple-century in First-Class cricket. While he retired from international cricket in 2001, he continued playing First-Class cricket till 2008.
One of the main reasons for Hick's promotion to the Australian senior team was the number of big series and tournaments being hosted by England in the next three years. "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," said Lehmann.
"To take the next step up with the men's team and getting the opportunity to work with some of the best players in the world is something I am really looking forward to," said Hick.
