In the next over, after Tom Moody indicated he was batting on, Hick went to pull Prasad and skied gently to midwicket. The final statistics: six sixes, 30 fours, 195 balls for 215 runs.The stand, worth 300, took only 61 overs This was Hick's 86th score htm of 100 or more. His critics will say that he was facing no one who could get the ball above waist high; he could reply that Bradman made runs action on a lot of flat pitches, too.Only once before has a Worcestershire player scored a double century against a touring side: Harold "Doc" Gibbons hit an unbeaten docs 200 against the 1928 West Indians on this ground.A pleased Lloyd said: "I'm delighted to see England players, who docs action took htm a lot of stick on the winter, docs looking docs htm so perky and ready to return." Hick added: "There wasn't much there for the bowlers, a little turn and the ball swung a fraction as it got older. The atmosphere will be totally docs action different in the international matches but I was pleased to get the opportunity to have a good look at their bowling."Don't read too much into this; it's practice action for them, too. What is nice is to see England players who have taken a lot of criticism get the bit htm between their teeth," htm Lloyd added.The Indians will be praying that the Test pitches give their spinners a little action more purchase. Kumble, Hirwani and the slow left-hander Venkatapathy Raju seem certain to be selected.

By lunch, 21 overs later, he had scored 80, including 17 off four balls in Hirwani's third over, and might have reached his century before lunch had not Kumble managed to apply the brake. Hick was murderous on anything short, and any straight half-volley was risking a six.By the 52nd over he had reached his century (101 balls), out of 152 at the wicket, Kumble being lifted over midwicket for successive fours. After 61 overs he was past 150 (130 balls), and then celebrated by blasting Hirwani for 27 in one over: 6-6-6-4-4 and a single off the last ball when he might have been caught low on the third man boundary by Venkat Prasad.Worcestershire's second-wicket record - 287 by Curtis and Hick against Glamorgan in 1986 - was swept aside. They have conceded 237 runs off 52 overs. For the first time in seven years, New Road escaped the usual winter flood. The square has rolled out flat with little pace, the outfield is as swift as in August; in other words, the perfect setting for a major assault by Hick.With the England coach, David Lloyd, overcoated but beaming in the cold wind, watching, Hick hit his 10th double century and put India's tactical planning in a twist.Hick joined Phil Weston after Tim Curtis had been well caught, low at second slip, in the 20th over. Rees played for them in the 1986 Cup final when he was an 18-year-old Harrow schoolboy.. Great Britain produced another disappointing performance in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia yesterday when they went down 2-0 to an exciting Korean side, writes Bill Colwill.

Britain were outplayed for long periods, with only a string of brave saves from David Luckes limiting the damage. Both teams played a cat-and-mouse game in the opening exchanges, much as they did recently in Atlanta when they drew 1-1, but Korea then stepped up their game, with goals for Seung Tae Song and Seok Kyo Seok.Britain play their last round-robin game today against the Netherlands, who yesterday lost 4-0 to Australia.. India 349-5 dec Worcestershire 440-4 A whirlwind double century from Graeme Hick, off 181 balls, reminded India that rumours of England's demise as a world cricket power may have been grossly exaggerated.The leg spinners Anil Kumble and Narendra Hirwani, the fulcrum of India's attack on this tour, were put to the slaughter. Last summer Dallaglio was uncapped and no more than a promising player in the Wasps back row. Stand-off King has yet to play a Courage League First Division match, but excelled for England A when they achieved a clean sweep at second-team level. Brian Davies, the Saracens captain and scrum-half, has been nominated as the unsung hero of the England season, despite his team's relegation from the top flight.Gareth Rees, Canada's World Cup captain, has been lured back to Wasps from Newport. His new Wasps' colleague, Alex King, made it a club double by being voted young player of the year. Lawrence Dallaglio, the Wasps captain and flanker, has capped his first season as an international by being named the England player of the year.