Fast bowling icon Hughes joins Australian greats

Among cricket’s most recognisable players ever thanks to his iconic moustache, menacing run-up and ferocious fast bowling, Hughes played 53 Tests and 33 one-day internationals for Australia in the 1980s and ‘90s.

The lion-hearted quick took 212 Test wickets at an average of 28.38, and a further 38 wickets at 29.34 in ODIs.

His best Test performance came against the West Indies in 1988 at the WACA, where he claimed figures of 8/87. One of those eight wickets came in a hat-trick spread across two innings and three overs.

Having dismissed Curtly Ambrose with the final ball of his 36th over, he removed Patrick Patterson with the first of his 37th to end the West Indies’ first innings on day two of the Test.

On day three he completed the most unique of hat-tricks by trapping Gordon Greenidge on the first ball of the West Indies’ second innings. That was the first of his eight wickets for the innings in a match in which he claimed 13 across 73.1 overs.

His greatest series performance came in the 1993 Ashes, claiming 31 wickets at 27.25 to help Australia win the six-match series 4-1.

“Merv Hughes was an icon of the Australian summer for so many of us, a larger-than-life personality, a wonderful international cricketer, an ambassador for the sport and a deserved inductee into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame," Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman, said.

“A lion-hearted competitor, Merv boasts a proud career for Victoria and Australia in the Test and One Day International arenas, paving the way for an incredible era of Australian cricketing dominance.

“Even as synonymous as his on-field record, Merv will be forever remembered as a fan-favourite and his iconic warm-ups close to the boundary, especially at the MCG, that prompted bays of spectators to join in with him at stadiums all over the country.

“He has left his legacy on the sport in post-career mentorship with modern-day teams, administrations roles as a National Selector and the heartbeat of Australian cricket. The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is delighted to recognise Merv Hughes.”