SITTING in the pavilion with his pads on is one of David Leatherdale’s abiding memories of playing alongside Graeme Hick.

The former Worcestershire all-rounder regularly followed the 42-year-old in the batting line-up and the Yorkshireman recalls the match at Hampshire’s old ground in Southampton as Hick and Tom Moody rattled up 438 in 1997.

“Gavin Haines and myself were sat one day for 140 overs with our pads on waiting to bat as Graeme and Tom put on 438,” Leatherdale said.

“There are so many things you could say about Graeme. He made batting look so easy, while I used to struggle. Even in the nets he was one of the first to introduce skinny bats and he would still smack you into the King’s School field.”

“Graeme has always been a very strong man,” the New Road commercial director added. “His nickname was ‘Arnie’ after Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“His timing and technique was just quality and people forget that he has taken over 200 first-class wickets.”