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. Towards the end of his career, this was felt to have increased damage to his knees and may have ultimately led to a shortening of his Australian and Victorian playing careers. In 5th grade, he pestered his father to be allowed to join football at Werribee where he held his own, despite the fact that he was one of the smallest players when out of his age group. Additionally, Hughes has appeared on TV commercials as well, featuring losing weight with "The 14-day All-Bran Challenge" and appearing as himself in the English comedy show Hale and Pace. Patrick Keane, in association with Merv Hughes, "AUSTRALIA v WEST INDIES 1988–89: Second Test Match", Spinner poses weighty problems – Daily Telegraph – 7 March 2007, "Your AFL club's most famous supporters, from Barack Obama to Cam Newton", http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/ashes-to-ashes-spurs-to-spurs-290909/, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merv_Hughes&oldid=988945845, Australia One Day International cricketers, Australia national cricket team selectors, Recipients of the Australian Sports Medal, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Hughes is noted for his large moustache. Read Today's Paper Tributes ... Jonathon Moran in South Africa. Hughes replaced Allan Border in June 2005 as a selector for the Australian cricket team, although his performance as a selector came under much scrutiny after many controversial decisions and the loss of the number-one ranking in Test matches after the 2009 Ashes series. Former Cricket great Merv Hughes and son Scott participate with Cricket goers in the 'Merv's walk to the G' event from Federation Square to the MCG before day three of the Second Test between... Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images "I went to a mate's house to watch the FA Cup Final, everyone in the house was supporting the other team except the guy I sat next to. Hughes' enthusiasm for sport was described as "unquenchable."[2]. Merv Hughes v Graham Gooch. 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. While no South African player has gone down that path again, the same can't be said for members of the crowd. [7] In a 2013 Sky Sports interview during the 2013 Ashes series, he quashed this rumour as being false. Late in his career, Hughes undertook a stint with the ACT Comets, which turned out to be unsuccessful. His first delivery was a wide, although he recovered sufficiently from that to take three wickets in the innings, and ended the season with the … Late in his career, Hughes undertook a stint with the ACT Comets, which turned out to be unsuccessful. Another classic from the scary Australian, this time it was aimed at a misfiring Graham Gooch. Match Centre. Hughes' physical presence (a burly 6'4"), handlebar moustache, a penchant for exuberant displays of affection for his fellow players, along with a tendency to talk to the opposition in inventively colourful language (his nickname was "Fruitfly" – a somewhat incongruous nickname until Allan Border explained it was a reference to "Australia's greatest national pest") and a (some would say) "mincing" run-up (that at times stretched to 45 paces), made him a firm favorite amongst supporters, who would often imitate his warm-up stretches behind him en masse. Described by Cricinfo as being "of incredible proportions",[6] the moustache became sufficiently synonymous with Hughes for him to be rumored to insure it for £200,000. Over the six Tests, Hughes took 31 wickets from almost 300 overs, helping Australia to a 4-1 victory. He was generally only selected for the shorter game when another player was injured or otherwise unavailable. Hughes also played Australian rules football during the winter in the late 1970s and early 1980s; at his peak, he was a key position player for the Werribee Football Club in the Victorian Football Association first division. He took 1–123 and was not re-selected until the Ashes series against England the following year. A right-arm fast bowler, he represented Australia in 53 Test matches between 1985 and 1994, taking 212 wickets. He also represented the Victorian Bushrangers, Essex in English county cricket, the ACT Comets and Australia A in the World Series Cup. Hughes, 53, is recognised one of Australia's all-time great fast bowlers. Jonathon Moran in South Africa News Corp Australia February 24, 2015 12:42am Hughes started his career playing district cricket with Footscray in 1978–79. He appeared for the Canberra Comets during their experiment against the states in domestic one-day cricket, and became a veteran of his local club Footscray in Melbourne. A colourful character who played 53 Tests for Australia and claimed 212 wickets during a 10-year international career. The Australian selectors always viewed Hughes as a Test match player rather than a one-day player. Australia fast bowler Merv Hughes talks to Shannon Gill about the summer of 1988/89, when 100,000 people claimed to be in the MCG. Another incident caught on something other than the host broadcaster's cameras. Wisden Cricket Monthly SUBSCRIBE. Team-mate Shane Warne copped a $400 sanction for a sweary send-off directed at South African opening batsman Andrew Hudson and like Hughes, an … Mervyn Gregory Hughes (born 23 November 1961, Euroa, Victoria) is a former Australian cricketer. [8], In 2015, Hughes appeared on the Australian version of the TV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. Merv Hughes could spend several weeks living in a basic jungle camp in South Africa as part of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! He was English, and I told him I was with him 100 per cent. November 23, 1961, Euroa, Victoria, Major teams Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Essex, Victoria. The independent voice of cricket | Thursday December 10, 2020. He was selected for Victoria in 1981–82 and made his debut against the South Australian Redbacks. He played 33 One Day Internationals, taking 38 wickets. After ducks in his first three Test innings, he also become a handy batsman - albeit one who favoured a powerful, tail-enders' hoick over midwicket - and had a top score of 72 against the mighty West Indians of 1988-89. Hughes first appeared for Australia against India in 1985–86. Organized sport began in 3rd grade at Werribee. Hughes responded to taunts by South African spectators by "lunging at the offenders with his bat" in the uncovered player's tunnel and later received a suspended fine of A$4,000 from the Australian Cricket Board … Live Scores; Current Series. By the mid-point of his international career, Hughes had improved his accuracy and variation and was using his bouncer, which remained a favourite throughout his career, with greater discretion. Merv Hughes and spectator, 1994. BASKET (0) SEARCH SIGN IN. Teams. MERV Hughes says he’s as far from chauvinistic and sexist as a person can be. A unicorn, for the uninitiated, is a company valued at more than $1 billion. Hughes first appeared for Australia against India in 1985–86. However, his enthusiasm for the game continued long after his international days. But an edged boundary from Robin Peterson beyond the reach of the slip cordon sealed the win for South Africa, but not without an enormous fright. Australian national cricket team — The Baggy Greens. South Africa United kingdom Australia Canada The Bahamas Barbados Belize Dominica Grenada Guyana Ireland Jamaica Saint Lucia St Vincent & Grenadines St Kitts & Nevis Trinidad & Tobago New Zealand . He is a prominent supporter of the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League[5] and has also done some acting, portraying Ivan Milat in the comedy movie Fat Pizza. At the WACA Ground in 1988–89, Hughes completed a hat-trick that was unusual as it was spread across three separate overs, two innings and two different days. Big hearted cricketer ! 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. Spurs won and I've supported them ever since."[10]. However, Australia would go on to have a successful 2009–10 summer, finishing undefeated in all three forms of the game. Cricket has a rich tradition of using nicknames.This is a list of nicknames used in international cricket. MERV Hughes believes Mitchell Johnson will make South Africa squirm in a brutal Test showdown but warns against underestimating Dale Steyn and his crack pace posse. 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. Merv Hughes Makes A Surprise Appearance | Studio 10 - YouTube Hughes sustained a serious knee injury during the series and made only a fleeting Test comeback the following summer, finishing with 212 career wickets. Hughes saved his greatest series performance for the 1993 Ashes tour, when bowling partner Craig McDermott was ruled out with a twisted bowel. Catch live and fully detailed scorecard of RSA vs AUS, 2nd Test, Mar 17, Australia in South Africa Test Series, 1994 on Cricbuzz Here You Go [Trailers] Later this year, the New York Stock Exchange will be welcoming Africa’s very first unicorn. FOOTBALLER turned peacekeeper Barry Hall is treating I’m A Celebrity like a footy match to rein in Merv Hughes. Cricinfo staff, Jon Holland receives his baggy green from Merv Hughes, Merv Hughes vents his frustrations during a charity T20 match, Merv Hughes celebrates a hat-trick at a charity T20 match. 1948 tour of England — The Invincibles; Bangladesh Cricket Team —The Tigers ; India national cricket team — The Blue Tigers, Men in Blue, The Blues; Ireland Cricket team — Green and Whites, Men in Green In recent times Australia has enjoyed good success touring South Africa with wins in three of the past four series. To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies. His first year at school came when the family went back to Euroa a 4-1.. Won and I 've supported them ever since. `` [ 2 ] one rip Getty Images ) a., Cape Town, Mar 94 uninitiated, is a former Australian cricketer living Melbourne. 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