Kim Hughes

Kim Hughes

Hughes in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Kimberley John Hughes
Born	(1954-01-26) 26 January 1954 (age 70) Margaret River, Western Australia
Nickname	Claggy[1]
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Role	Top-order batsman
Relations	Glenn Hughes (brother)
International information
National side	Australia (1977-1985)
Test debut (cap 281)	25 August 1977 v England
Last Test	27 December 1984 v West Indies
ODI debut (cap 37)	4 June 1977 v England
Last ODI	29 March 1985 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1975/76–1988/89	Western Australia
1989/90–1990/91	Natal
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA Matches 70 97 216 179 Runs scored 4,415 1,968 12,711 3,961 Batting average 37.41 24.00 36.52 25.06 100s/50s 9/22 0/17 26/69 1/28 Top score 213 98 213 119 Balls bowled 85 1 194 80 Wickets 0 0 3 2 Bowling average – – 32.33 30.50 5 wickets in innings – – 0 0 10 wickets in match – – 0 0 Best bowling – – 1/0 2/38 Catches/stumpings 50/– 27/– 155/– 53/–
Source: CricketArchive, 14 April 2008

Kimberley John Hughes (born 26 January 1954) is a former cricketer who played for Western Australia, Natal and Australia. He captained Australia in 28 Test matches between 1979 and 1984 before captaining a rebel Australian team in a tour of South Africa, a country which at the time was subject to a sporting boycott opposing apartheid.

A right-handed batsman, Hughes was seen to possess an orthodox and attractive batting style. He was identified as a potential Test cricketer from an early age, but his impetuous style of batting, and personality clashes with influential teammates and opponents such as Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh, saw a later introduction to first-class and Test cricket than anticipated. During the split between the establishment Australian Cricket Board and the breakaway World Series Cricket, Hughes stayed with the establishment.

Hughes' captaincy record with Australia was hindered by a succession of matches being played away from home (just eight of his 28 Tests while captain were played in Australia) and the necessity to rebuild an inexperienced team after the frequent absence, and later the retirement, of several senior players. Placed under extreme pressure by the media and former teammates during a series of losses to the then dominant cricket team in the world, West Indies, Hughes resigned from the captaincy, making an emotional and tearful speech. He finished his career playing cricket in South Africa.

After his playing career, Hughes for a time acted as the chairman of selectors for the Western Australian Cricket Association, and is an occasional commentator for ABC Radio's cricket coverage.