CA hires ex-England player Graeme Hick as new High Performance coach for Oz

Former England and Zimbabwe batsman Graeme Hick has reportedly been hired by Cricket Australia (CA) as the new High Performance coach for the national team to fix Australia's batting malaise just two months before the Ashes.

According to the Courier Mail, CA has confirmed that 65-Test batsman Hick will replace Stuart Law as High Performance Coach based at Brisbane's CA Centre of Excellence following Law's appointment as Queensland boss after Darren Lehmann's appointment to the national set-up in June.

The report mentioned that Hick's first act would be to run a batting forum for coaches and players next month to create a national batting philosophy.

Stating that he has developed a huge amount of respect for Australian cricket and the Baggy Green, Hick said that he is excited to have the chance to work with Australia's young talent and assist in their growth and development.

Although Hick scored just six centuries while averaging 31 for England between 1991-2001, CA Executive General Manager Team Performance Pat Howard said that the board was impressed by Hick while he worked as a consultant in the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

According to Howard, Hick's main role will be working with CA's development teams including Australia A, Under 19 players and those in their current pathway system, adding that Hick will also provide a dedicated batting resource to all state and national players who come through the Centre of Excellence at any time during the year.

Howard further said that Hick is aware of what it takes to compete at the top level and has had many years' experience playing in different conditions, which will be vital to the development of Australia's young batters.