Not before time, Hick s Test career must surely be over even though he is still likely to play in one day internationals. The inclusion of Surrey s Ian Ward is further evidence that Hick s England day s are over. War s call to England colours is well-deserved after his successful England A tour to West Indies last winter, and so far this season he has continued in the same vein. In fact, I recall Ian Ward making runs for Surrey 2nd X1 at Hove a few seasoned ago. A verbose Sussex member watching spent much of the afternoon assuring other spectators that Ward was the younger brother of the former Surrey batsman David.
Nothing can be further from the truth.
Meanwhile, if Middlesex s new captain Angus Fraser is recalled to England colours this season he may well thank a 73 year old Sussex club cricketer Peter Streader. During Middlesex s recent Benson and Hedges cup match against Sussex at Hove Mr Streader was seen dispensing useful tips on fast bowling to Fraser. Mr Streader, who can reel off his long career s statistics at the drop of a hat and usually does, must be getting well known on the first class circuit. Last season he spent a morning insisting on passing on his experience to Warwickshire coach Bob Woolmer and fast bowler Ed Giddins during a championship match at Hove as well as vociferously demonstrating to the Sussex batsmen what they were doing wrong as wickets were tumbling against Northants at Eastbourne. His illness might well have been caused by Sussex finishing with the wooden spoon last season.