I enjoy getting hundreds and then going on to get big ones when I am really in Graeme Hick

Graeme Hick and Ben Smith put on an unbeaten partnership of 359 as they ran Gloucestershire ragged at New Road.

The duo took Worcestershire to 396-2 at stumps on day one of the Division One encounter in the Championship.

Alex Gidman and Jon Lewis had one wicket apiece for the visitors, but there was nothing else for Gloucestershire to celebrate.

They had turned to slow bowler Ian Fisher as a replacement for the injured Pakistani international Shabbir Ahmed.

"I ironed out a couple of things technique-wise over the winter - nothing too major - and things have gone quite nicely. I still get that buzz at this time of year," said Hick.

"I just go out and try to do the best I can for the side. As far as the record books are concerned, I leave that to others to make what they want of them.

"The longer I am at the crease the better as I still get great pleasure from playing. But it won't mean much if we don't go on to win the game."

Worcestershire: S D Peters, S C Moore, G A Hick, B F Smith (Capt) V S Solanki, Kadeer Ali, G J Batty, S J Rhodes (Wkt), M S Mason M N Malik, M A Harrity.

Gloucestershire: C M Spearman, W P C Weston, M G N Windows T H C Hancock, C G Taylor (Capt), A P R Gidman, Shoaib Malik S J Adshead (Wkt), I D Fisher, J M M Averis, J Lewis.