GRAEME Hick, 134 not out, will face his sternest World Cup test to date when facing South Africa at the Oval on Saturday. England’s number three, desperate to establish himself as an automatic selection after a see-saw career, has yet to be dismissed in the tournament after making 73 against Sri Lanka and 61 against Kenya. Add his final warm-up game before the tournament, against English county Hampshire, and the hard-hitting Zimbabwean-born player can boast 199 runs without losing his wicket. “Graeme is on fire at the moment,” says his captain Alec Stewart. “He is showing what a world-class player he really is, just as he’s been doing over the last 12 months.” South Africa’s pace attack will prove formidable, having sent the Sri Lankans off in 35 overs for 110, the lowest score in the tournament so far.