Hick remains a stylish batsman even in the twilight of his career

Hick was 40 this year and became the eighth man to score 100 centuries for an individual county on Thursday.

"Whenever people mention my age they back it up with compliments rather than making it a negative thing," said Hick.

"In many ways I don't feel 40, my reflexes are sharp, I have taken some good catches and I'd like to carry on."

Many people feel Hick failed to live up expectations at Test level, with his 65 matches producing only six centuries at an average of 31.32.

"There are a lot of things in my career that I feel very proud of," Hick told the BBC's Test Match Special.

"At times I think I performed very well for England but at times I'd like to have been more consistent and not been in and out of the side as much as I was."

Overseas county players aren't all of the quality that used to be involved, because there's so much international cricket Graeme Hick

Hick began his county career in 1984, a year in which the great West Indies team whitewashed England 5-0 in the Test series.

Of that legendary team, skipper Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner all played county cricket in England.

Hick believes the modern county game is competitive, but would like to see the standard of international signings improve.

"A few years ago I thought county cricket had definitely got weaker but four-day cricket with two divisions changed the perceptions," he said.

"The game is in a good state. The only difference to when I started playing is the overseas players aren't all of the quality that used to be involved, because there's so much international cricket.

"Some counties are choosing overseas players who are on the fringes of their national teams and I think it's a shame we don't see more of the likes of Glenn McGrath."

Having spent 22 years with Worcestershire, Hick's current contract runs out at the end of the season, leaving question marks about his future.

"If I finish the season as I do now, enjoying the game and contributing, I'd like to carry on," he said. "I don't want to retire just because I'm 40, you're a long time retired, but if I do carry on it will be something I take year by year."