Kim Hughes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kim Hughes

Hughes in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Kimberley John Hughes
Born	(1954-01-26) 26 January 1954 (age 71) Margaret River, Western Australia
Nickname	Claggy
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 bowl avg4 = 30.50 Bowling average – – 32.33 {{{bowl avg4}}} 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 cricket player from Australia. He played for Western Australia, Natal, and the Australian national team. Kim Hughes was the captain of Australia in 28 Test matches between 1979 and 1984. Later, he led a special Australian team on a tour to South Africa. At that time, South Africa was facing a sports ban because of its apartheid policy, which was a system of racial separation.

Hughes was a right-handed batsman known for his classic and attractive style of playing. People saw him as a future Test star from a young age. However, his quick-to-act batting style and disagreements with important teammates like Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh meant he started playing first-class and Test cricket later than expected. During a big disagreement in Australian cricket, where some players joined a new league called World Series Cricket, Hughes chose to stay with the traditional cricket board.

Kim Hughes' time as captain was tough because many matches were played away from home. Also, he had to build a new team after many experienced players left or retired. He faced a lot of pressure from the media and former teammates when Australia lost many games to the strong West Indies team. Hughes eventually stepped down as captain, giving a very emotional speech. He finished his cricket career playing in South Africa. After retiring, Hughes became the head of selectors for the Western Australian Cricket Association for a while. He also sometimes works as a commentator for ABC Radio's cricket games.

Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Kim Hughes was born on January 26, 1954, in Margaret River, Western Australia. He was the first child of Stan, a school teacher, and Ruth. His family moved around Western Australia a lot because of his father's job. They finally settled in Geraldton, where Kim went to Allendale Primary School. His father was the headmaster there.

Sports in Childhood

In Geraldton, young Kim played many sports, including hockey, tennis, and especially Australian rules football. His childhood hero was Austin Robertson, Jr., a football player. Kim started playing organized cricket at age 11, filling in for an under-16 team. At 11, he was chosen for a Geraldton team to play in a junior tournament in Perth. His teammates included Geoff Gallop, who later became the Premier of Western Australia. His strong performances against older boys at this tournament caught the eye of cricket officials.

Moving to Perth and Junior Success

After primary school, Kim's family moved to Perth. He went to City Beach High School and played cricket for the Floreat Park Under-16 team. In his last junior season, Kim scored 555 runs and took 28 wickets. He was then chosen for the Western Australia Colts squad. The next season, at 15, Hughes played his first game in first grade for Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club. He scored 36 runs. In January 1970, he played for Western Australia in a national under-19 competition. His captain, Ric Charlesworth, called him "the most gifted junior cricketer I ever saw." Later that season, Hughes scored his first century in first grade cricket.

Becoming a Cricket Star

First-Class Debut and Early Challenges

The WACA Ground, the home ground of the Western Australian cricket team and the venue for Hughes' first-class cricket debut.

After playing only nine first grade games, Hughes joined the Western Australian Sheffield Shield team in 1970–71. Rod Marsh, a Test wicket-keeper, described him as "a technically perfect batsman." However, Hughes struggled for a few seasons and was out of the state team. He kept playing for the state colts team. In one game, he scored a quick 97 runs, trying to hit a six to reach his century.

In 1973–74, Hughes was called back to the Western Australian squad. He was the twelfth man in three games but couldn't get into the main team because Western Australia had many strong batsmen. Eager to play, Hughes went to Adelaide to try to join the South Australia team, which needed batsmen more. He played for a local club but was not invited to join the state team. Disappointed, he returned to Western Australia.

Hughes became the captain-coach of North Perth Cricket Club for the 1975–76 season. He finally made his first-class cricket debut for Western Australia in November 1975 at the WACA Ground. He scored 119 runs, hitting the ball strongly even against fast bowlers. He was the fifth Western Australian batsman to score a century in his first-class debut for the state. Later that season, he scored another century against the touring West Indies team. In his first season, Hughes scored 494 runs.

Making His Test Debut

In December 1976, Hughes scored 137 runs against the touring Pakistan team. This performance caught the attention of the national selectors. A few weeks later, Hughes was chosen as the twelfth man for Australia in a Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While on the field, he hurt his shoulder trying to catch a ball. He missed the rest of the Pakistan matches but was included in the Australian team to tour New Zealand. However, he did not play in any of the two Tests there.

In 1977, Hughes went to England with the Australian team. It was a difficult tour for the team, and they lost the series to England. A new cricket league, World Series Cricket, was also causing problems among the players. Hughes did not play much early in the tour. He was finally chosen to make his Test debut in the fifth match, after the series was already decided. Hughes was not happy about how he had been treated. In his first Test innings, he took a long time to score his first run, which was his only run before he was out.

The World Series Cricket Era

The World Series Cricket (WSC) split the Australian team. Some players signed contracts with Kerry Packer's new league, while others, like Hughes, stayed with the traditional Australian Cricket Board (ACB). Hughes chose to stay with traditional cricket. He said in September 1977 that young players should "dedicate, train long and hard."

In the first season of the split, the ACB brought 41-year-old Bob Simpson out of retirement to captain Australia against the Indians. Hughes played well for Western Australia but was not chosen for the first Test. He played in the second Test, scoring 28 and a duck (zero runs). He was left out again for the third Test but returned for the fourth. At this point, Hughes had not played two Test matches in a row.

In 1978, Hughes traveled to the Caribbean with the Australian team to play the West Indies. He had an illness and had to have his appendix removed. Even after he recovered, he did not play any Tests. The captain, Simpson, did not approve of Hughes's personality and attitude.

Mike Brearley led his English team to Australia in 1978–79. With Simpson retired, Graham Yallop became the new Australian captain, leading a very young team. Australia lost the series to England. Hughes played in all six Tests, scoring 345 runs. His only century came in the first Test in Brisbane. Australia was struggling, but Hughes scored 129 runs, his first Test century, making the team's effort look better.

Leading the Australian Team

First Time as Captain

After the series against England, Australia played Pakistan in a two-Test series. Pakistan won the first Test. Before the second Test, Captain Yallop got injured. Hughes, playing only his eleventh Test, was named Australian captain. He was the first player from Western Australia to lead the national team.

Hughes was excited about being captain. He injured his ankle during practice and could not field. During the game, the Australian team used a rare rule to get a Pakistan batsman out, which some saw as unsportsmanlike. Hughes said it was "just part of cricket." Australia won the second Test, tying the series. Hughes had started his captaincy with a win.

His success led to him being appointed captain for the 1979 Cricket World Cup in England. The Australian team did not do well and did not reach the semi-finals. Next, Hughes and his team toured India. In a series affected by rain, Australia did not win a match. However, Wisden praised Hughes, saying his batting improved and that being captain did not affect his performance. He scored 100 runs in the first Test in Chennai. Hughes was the top scorer for Australia in the series, with 594 runs.

Cricket Teams Reunite

In 1979, the World Series Cricket and the Australian Cricket Board agreed to bring the Australian team back together. Hughes and the other traditional players now had to compete with the returning WSC players for spots on the national and state teams. Many experts thought Hughes might not make the team. However, Hughes was included in the Australian squad as vice-captain, with Greg Chappell returning as captain.

England and the West Indies both toured Australia in 1979–80. Hughes started well, scoring 139 runs without being out against the West Indies, who had strong bowlers. In the next Test against England, Hughes was out for 99 runs, just one short of a century. A short tour to Pakistan followed, where Hughes scored 182 runs in three Tests.

The Pavilion at Lord's Cricket Ground. Hughes hit a six from the bowling of Chris Old that landed in the top deck.

The Centenary Test at Lord's Cricket Ground in August 1980 was a great success for Hughes. Much of the game was lost to bad weather, but Hughes played "two innings of the highest quality." He scored 117 runs in the first innings. His second innings of 84 runs was seen as even more brilliant. One of his sixes landed on the top deck of the pavilion. Former England captain Gubby Allen said he could not remember a more amazing straight hit. Hughes was named the Man of the Match for his performance. He was also named one of the 1981 Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

Hughes struggled against New Zealand in 1980–81. Rumors about him being dropped started. While batting against India later that summer, Hughes scored a double-century, 213 runs. Wisden called it a "magnificent innings." Hughes dedicated his innings to his newborn twin sons.

Captain Again, Then Not

Headingley Stadium, venue for the third Test in the 1981 Ashes series

In 1981, Australia was set to tour England for the Ashes. Greg Chappell decided not to lead the team, so the Australian Cricket Board chose Hughes as captain. Hughes and his team surprisingly won the preliminary One Day International series. Australia won the first Test in Nottingham after Hughes won the toss and chose for England to bat first. Australia then had the better of a drawn match in the second Test. After this, England's captain, Ian Botham, resigned.

The third Test was played at Headingley. Hughes's Australians were doing well at first. Australia scored 401 runs, with Hughes contributing 89. England only scored 174 runs, so Hughes made them bat again immediately (called the follow-on). England was struggling at 135 runs for 7 wickets. However, Ian Botham and Bob Willis turned the game around. Botham scored 149 runs, allowing England to set a target of 130 runs for Australia to win. Willis then took eight wickets, and Australia was out for only 111. Hughes's team lost a match they should have easily won. Australia also lost the fourth Test. England won the series and kept the Ashes. This series became known as "Botham's summer."

With Chappell available again, Hughes became vice-captain for the 1981–82 Tests. Australia played Pakistan in a tough series and won. Hughes started the series with a century (106 runs). The West Indies, considered the best team in the world, also toured Australia. In the first Test, the pitch was very difficult to play on. Australia was quickly losing wickets, but Hughes decided to attack the West Indian bowlers. He scored 100 runs, an innings that was widely praised. West Indian bowler Andy Roberts called it "a great innings." This innings was later ranked as one of the Top 100 Test Innings of all time.

The End of an Era

In March 1982, Hughes scored only 29 runs in three Tests in New Zealand. Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Len Pascoe did not go on the tour to Pakistan in 1982. Hughes was chosen as interim captain, winning a close vote against Rod Marsh. It was a difficult tour for Australia. Many players got sick, and Hughes even threatened to take his team home after fans threw things at them. Pakistan won the series three Tests to nil.

Hughes hoped to remain captain for the Ashes series in 1982–83, but the ACB chose to bring Chappell back as captain. Hughes's batting was not affected, though. He scored 469 runs against England. He batted for over 6 hours to score 137 runs in the final Test in Sydney. Australia won the Ashes back. Soon after, Chappell stepped down as captain, and Hughes became captain of a full-strength Australian team for the first time.

Australia did not get past the group stage in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, winning only two of six matches. Hughes's team was embarrassed by a loss to Zimbabwe, which was mostly an amateur team at the time. Hughes chose to sit out a crucial match against India due to a minor injury. In his absence, Australia lost and was out of the tournament. Some in the media criticized Hughes for not playing.

The Australian Cricket Board again voted to appoint Hughes as captain for the 1983–84 series against Pakistan. This time, Hughes led a strong Australian team, including Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Rod Marsh. Australia easily defeated Pakistan. Hughes scored 375 runs in the series, including a century. At the end of the season, Chappell, Lillee, and Marsh, Australia's most experienced players, retired from international cricket.

Challenges and Retirement

Tough Times as Captain

Australia was scheduled to tour the West Indies in 1984. The West Indies were considered the best team in the world. Hughes's new Australian team had to face them without the recently retired Marsh, Lillee, and Chappell. Many players were also injured during the tour.

Australia lost the series three Tests to nil. Hughes did not bat well, scoring 215 runs. The pressure of the tour affected Hughes. In one match, he showed his frustration by not trying to win. In the second Test, a teammate even threw a punch at Hughes.

Hughes then led Australia to a 3–0 victory in a one-day series against India. However, the West Indies soon returned to Australia for the 1984–85 season. Australia lost the first Test badly. Hughes scored only four runs in the first innings. The media, especially Ian Chappell, strongly criticized Hughes. During the second Test, Hughes scored only four runs in the second innings. The next morning, Hughes told the team manager he wanted to quit as captain.

Stepping Down as Captain

With help from Greg Chappell, Hughes wrote his resignation letter. He told his teammates about his decision, but his vice-captain, Allan Border, asked him to reconsider. Hughes refused. At a press conference, Hughes announced his decision. He said that constant criticism had taken its toll and that he wanted to continue playing with enjoyment. Hughes became very emotional while reading his letter and cried, leaving the rest for the team manager to read. Australia went on to lose the match.

The reaction to Hughes's resignation and tears was mixed. Some felt he was treated unfairly, while others criticized him. Hughes was sometimes mocked for his tears, which some saw as not being "manly" or "Australian." It is sometimes said that Hughes is remembered as much for his tears as for his cricket achievements.

Hughes kept his place in the Australian team for the third Test under new captain Allan Border. Hughes did not score well in this match. He joined the team for the fourth Test in Melbourne. Despite support from the crowd, Hughes scored zero runs in both innings (a "pair"). In his last innings, he was out on the very first ball he faced (a "golden duck"). He never played in a Test match again. He played in some remaining One Day Internationals but without success. He was not chosen for the Australian team to tour England in 1985.

Rebel Tours and Final Years

While the Australian team for England was being chosen, the South African Cricket Union (SACU) was putting together a "rebel" Australian team to tour South Africa. South Africa was banned from international cricket because of its apartheid policy. Hughes felt his options in Australian cricket were limited, so he chose to join the rebel team as captain. Hughes was one of the last players to join. He faced strong criticism for his decision. Desmond Tutu called him a hypocrite, and the Prime Minister of Australia called him a "comforter of racists." This criticism hurt Hughes. In South Africa, however, Hughes was seen as a hero.

The rebel team played two series against the South African team, in 1985–86 and 1986–87, losing both. Hughes scored well in these series. In 2007, Hughes said he was pleased to be involved because cricket helped break down barriers in South Africa.

After the rebel tours, Hughes returned to Western Australia. The Western Australian Cricket Association tried to ban him from club cricket. Hughes took legal action and won, which cost the WACA a lot of money. He returned to the Western Australian team in 1987–88. He played six matches that year. The next season, he played only two games for Western Australia.

In September 1989, Hughes became captain of Natal in South Africa. His two seasons there were disappointing for the team. Hughes did not score many runs. However, he had a positive effect on two future South African cricketers, Andrew Hudson and Jonty Rhodes. Hughes retired from all first-class cricket in February 1991.

Life After Cricket

Personal Life and Other Interests

After high school, Hughes went to Graylands Teachers College to become a primary school teacher. He was elected president of the student council and led a campaign to improve the college's facilities.

His first job as a teacher was in South Australia. Later, he worked in the finance industry, promoting businesses. These jobs allowed him time off to play cricket.

Hughes was also a talented Australian rules football player as a junior. He was invited to play for the Claremont Football Club. He played two seasons but decided to focus on cricket.

Hughes met Jenny Davidson when he was 14. They married in March 1977. In January 1981, Jenny gave birth to twin sons. They later had another son and a daughter. Kim's brother, Glenn, also played first-class cricket.

Since retiring from playing, Hughes was chairman of selectors for the Western Australian Cricket Association from 1999 to 2000. He also sometimes works as a cricket commentator for ABC radio. He was the Head of Cricket at Hale School in Perth. A dining room at the WACA Ground is named the Kim Hughes Room in his honor.

Playing Style and Personality

Hughes batted with a classic, upright style. He held the bat high and played his shots with control and power. He was good at defending but sometimes moved around too much, which could make him vulnerable.

People who knew Hughes generally found him likeable and friendly. He wanted to be liked by others. When he became captain of Australia, he said he hoped he would "always be a likeable enough, easy-to-get-along-with type of person." His biographer noted that almost everyone described Kim as "nice." He was popular with the press and the public. English journalist Frank Keating said Hughes was always "softly obliging."

Hughes seemed confident on the field. One early opponent called him "a pretty cocky little fella." This confidence pleased some, but others thought he was sometimes "extravagant."

Hughes was proud to be Australian. He was born on Australia Day. On his first tour to England, he was often the only team member wearing the Australian team blazer. Hughes said that the "greatest day of [his] life" was when Australia II won the 1983 America's Cup yacht race. He watched a replay of the race twice that day with his twin sons, waving mini-Australian flags.

Hughes's nickname was "Claggy," which was a reference to a type of glue often found in classrooms in Australia.