Cricket: Hick Passes W G Grace in Century Record Books ; LANCASHIRE 196 & 47-1 WORCESTERSHIRE 306

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Rain, cold westerly winds and Graeme Hick lighting up New Road with another brilliant century. These are three of the features which symbolise the beginning of a new season and yesterday, on the second day of Worcestershire's Second Division match with Lancashire, each were present.

Only Hick will know what motivates him to keep plundering bowling attacks, but in his 22nd season at Worcester, and at the age of 38, he appears as hungry as ever. Hick was eventually dismissed for 176 but by then Worcestershire had taken their lead to 110. By the close Lancashire had cut the deficit by 47 runs for the loss of Mark Chilton.

With Hick's Test career over, the former …