Worcestershire legend Graeme Hick is to enjoy his second benefit season in eight years next summer.

The former England batman will be pleased if next year's fund-raising efforts are half as successful as his first one.

Hick's original benefit in 1999 was one of the most productive in English cricket, raising easily a Worcestershire record of £345,406.

That comfortably beat the county's previous best of £271,275 for Richard Illingworth in 1997. It was particularly impressive, given that Hick's year was the fourth of five consecutive seasons in which long-serving Worcestershire players were so rewarded.

Present coach Steve Rhodes (1996), Illingworth ( 1997), Phil Newport (1998) and Stuart Lampitt ( 2000) all benefited, although with mixed results.

At the time, Hick's bumper windfall had then-Worcestershire secretary Mike Vockins saying: "It reflects Graeme's immense popularity throughout the cricket world."

But the success of Hick's second benefit year will depend to a large extent on whether the Zimbabweborn run-machine can recapture his best form next summer, more than 21 years after his debut for the county.

Last season proved his worst in English cricket but that followed on, it must be pointed out, from his biggest first-class haul of runs in 15 years the previous summer.

He will become 40 next May, so the Worcestershire cricketing public eagerly await to see which Hick will be on show next summer.

Hick's second benefit campaign will also be the final season of his existing four-year contract at New Road and his form will determine to a large extent whether he is offered another deal - or, for that matter, whether he still has the same hunger to continue playing.

Next year will also be the ideal platform for Hick, ninth in cricket's all-time list of first-class century-makers on 128, to compile the two centuries he needs to register 100 hundreds for Worcestershire.

Worcestershire member Cynthia Crawford, who has agreed to be chairwoman of Hick's testimonial committee, said: "I am both surprised and pleased to be asked by Graeme to act as chairwoman during his testimonial year.

"Graeme has been an integral part of Worcestershire for over 20 years and we all agree this honour is well-merited."

Meanwhile, a Worcestershire player at the other end of his professional career, Faisal Shahid, has been awarded a scholarship with the county for 2006.

Shahid, who hails from Smethwick and was a graduate of Worcestershire's Academy in 2004, plays for Halesowen in the Birmingham League and has also played regularly for the Worcestershire Second XI during the last two years.

Rhodes, Worcestershire's director of cricket, said: "Faisal has a fantastic opportunity to impress next season.

"He knows that with consistent performances he could push his name forward for a full contract.

"And, being an all-rounder, he adds some depth to our squad."