Ramprakash laments end of Hick era

Surrey’s Mark Ramprakash believes it is the end of an era for English cricket following yesterday’s announcement Graeme Hick will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the season.

“I suppose father time stops for no one these days, and Graeme Hick has had a magnificent career as we all know and the statistics prove that,” Ramprakash said.

“He is such an accomplished player and someone who everyone looks up to around the country as he has such a fantastic record in all forms of the game.”

Mark Ramprakash and Graeme Hick were England team-mates - here adding 128 runs together against Sri Lanka in 1998

Hick made his England Test debut in 1991 against the West Indies alongside Ramprakash, and it is something the Surrey skipper remembers well.

“I have very fond memories of the two of us starting our Test careers together in a very difficult match at Headingley all those years ago,” he continued.

Ramprakash, who recently joined the elite band of cricketers to have scored 100 first-class hundreds - alongside Hick, also criticised the negative press Hick has received throughout his career, particularly for his international record.

“I find it very disappointing that whenever his name is mentioned there are very negative things said about him, as without doubt he is a wonderful player who represented England on many occasions, who played every match to the best of his ability, and I believe it is a little unfair to criticise anyone who has been so good throughout his career,” Ramprakash added.

“I know he should be very proud of what he has achieved and I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well for the future.”

He went on to say: “He is a fierce competitor, feared throughout the world and certainly around the county scene. I can say for sure that many a bowler will be delighted he is retiring.”