GRAEME Hick the prolific one-day international batsman needs no introduction -- but Hick the bowler has become a forgotten man in the last year.

That was until England captain Nasser Hussain enlisted the Worcestershire captain's off-spin in Sunday's nine-wicket victory over South Africa in Bloemfontein.

Hick bowled two crucial overs at the 'death' with Lance Klusener primed to bludgeon with his heavy bat.

And Hussain has the confidence to use Hick again in today's second day/night triangular series match against South Africa at Newlands if it is tactically necessary.

Hussain's predecessor Alec Stewart did not toss the ball to Hick at all in the Carlton and United one-day series in Australia last winter -- Hick played in all 12 games -- and gave him only three overs in England's five World Cup games last summer.

Hick's figures in Bloemfontein were statistically nothing special -- 6-0-32-1 -- and somewhat spoiled by a big six from Klusener in those closing overs when there really is no place for any bowler to hide. But Hick held his nerve.

"I always wanted a specialist spinner plus Hick," said Hussain.

"Hick's been under-used. Towards the end I had to bring him back for two overs with Lance Klusener and Shaun Pollock hitting down wind. Apart from when Klusener hit him for six, Hick kept his bottle brilliantly.

"He obviously can bowl in this form of cricket. Spinners play a big part if a team is to do well. It was just a gut feeling to bring back Hick; we had a young spinner (Swann) and we had to look after him a bit".

England will be ready for South Africa to come back hard after their heavy defeat, and the host country will have Jonty Rhodes fit again after missing the final Test and first two one-day matches of the series with hamstring trouble.