Full name Mervyn Gregory Hughes
Born November 23, 1961, Euroa, Victoria
Current age 56 years 151 days
Major teams Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Essex, Victoria
Nickname Fruitfly
Playing role Bowler
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Other Selector
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests ![]() |
53 | 70 | 8 | 1032 | 72* | 16.64 | 2233 | 46.21 | 0 | 2 | 96 | 17 | 23 | 0 |
ODIs ![]() |
33 | 17 | 8 | 100 | 20 | 11.11 | 134 | 74.62 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
First-class | 165 | 196 | 45 | 2649 | 72* | 17.54 | 0 | 7 | 56 | 0 | ||||
List A | 88 | 46 | 15 | 264 | 20 | 8.51 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests ![]() |
53 | 97 | 12285 | 6017 | 212 | 8/87 | 13/217 | 28.38 | 2.93 | 57.9 | 14 | 7 | 1 |
ODIs ![]() |
33 | 33 | 1639 | 1115 | 38 | 4/44 | 4/44 | 29.34 | 4.08 | 43.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 165 | 34881 | 17429 | 593 | 8/87 | 29.39 | 2.99 | 58.8 | 21 | 3 | |||
List A | 88 | 4466 | 3151 | 105 | 5/41 | 5/41 | 30.00 | 4.23 | 42.5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Test debut | Australia v India at Adelaide, Dec 13-17, 1985 scorecard |
Last Test | South Africa v Australia at Cape Town, Mar 17-21, 1994 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
ODI debut | Australia v Pakistan at Adelaide, Dec 11, 1988 scorecard |
Last ODI | England v Australia at Lord's, May 23, 1993 scorecard |
ODI statistics | |
First-class span | 1981/82 - 1994/95 |
List A span | 1981/82 - 1998/99 |
Merv Hughes was a big-hearted fast bowler who ultimately made a major contribution to Australia's fortunes. A crowd favourite, he was a lively character armed with an imposing run-up and delivery action, a classic fast bowlers' glare down the pitch, a mischievous sense of humour and a moustache of incredible proportions. And while his antics sometimes overshadowed his bowling, Hughes gave every ounce of effort to his country, and helped it to re-climb the ranks of Test cricket. Hughes made a comparatively modest entrance in the mid-1980s, but his value came to the fore against West Indies in 1988-89, when he lost pace partner Geoff Lawson to a broken jaw in the second Test. Hughes gained a hat-trick in that match, but his performance - 13 for 217 off 73.1 overs - illustrated his ability to combine the roles of spearhead and stock bowler.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1994