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 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 January 26, 1954) is a former Australian cricketer. 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 of South Africa. At that time, many countries had a sporting boycott against South Africa due to its apartheid policy.

Hughes was a right-handed batsman with a smooth and attractive batting style. People thought he would be a Test cricketer from a young age. However, his daring batting style and some disagreements with other players, like Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh, meant he started playing first-class and Test cricket later than expected. During a big split in Australian cricket, when some players joined a new league called World Series Cricket, Hughes chose to stay with the traditional cricket board.

As captain, Hughes faced challenges because many matches were played away from Australia. Also, he had to rebuild an inexperienced team after several senior players left. 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 resigned as captain, giving an emotional speech. He finished his playing career in South Africa. After retiring, Hughes became the chairman of selectors for the Western Australian Cricket Association for a time. He also works as a commentator for ABC Radio's cricket coverage.

Early Life & Cricket Start

Kim Hughes was born on January 26, 1954, in Margaret River, Western Australia. His father, Stan, was a school teacher, and his mother was 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.

In Geraldton, young Kim played many sports, including hockey, tennis, and especially Australian rules football. His hero was Austin Robertson, Jr., a football player. Kim started playing organized cricket at age 11. He filled in for the Bluff Point Cricket Club's under-16 team. At 11, he was chosen for a Geraldton team to play in a junior tournament in Perth. His good performance against older boys caught the attention of cricket officials.

After primary school, Kim's family moved to Perth. He went to City Beach High School and played cricket for Floreat Park's 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 senior game for Subiaco-Floreat Cricket Club. His captain, former Test player Des Hoare, saw him score 36 runs. In January 1970, Hughes was picked to play for Western Australia in a national under-19 event. His captain, Ric Charlesworth, called Hughes "the most gifted junior cricketer I ever saw." Later that season, Hughes scored his first century (100 runs) in senior club cricket.

Cricket Journey Begins

Club Cricket & First-Class Debut

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 senior club games, Hughes joined the Western Australian Sheffield Shield squad in 1970–71. Rod Marsh, a Test wicket-keeper, called him "a technically perfect batsman." People in Perth thought he might play his first first-class cricket game that season. However, Hughes struggled for a few seasons and was out of the state squad. He still played for the state colts team. In one match, he scored a quick 97 runs, almost reaching a century with a six. Four years after his first century, Hughes scored his second.

In 1973–74, Hughes was called back to the Western Australian squad. He was the twelfth man in three games, meaning he was a reserve player. He couldn't get into the main team because Western Australia had many strong batsmen. Hughes was eager to play first-class cricket. He went to Adelaide to try to play for South Australia, whose batting team was not as strong. He played for a club there but was not asked to join the state team. Disappointed and missing home, Hughes returned to Western Australia.

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

In 1976, Hughes played as a professional for Watsonians Cricket Club in Scotland. He later said this time was "possibly the best six months of my life."

Making His Test Debut

In December 1976, Hughes played for Western Australia against the touring Pakistan team. He scored 137 runs very quickly, which caught the eye of the national selectors. The Australian newspaper said it was a "majestic performance." 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 as a substitute, he hurt his shoulder trying to catch a ball.

Hughes missed the rest of the Pakistan matches but was included in the Australian team to tour New Zealand. He didn't play in any of the two Test matches there. Four weeks after getting married, Hughes went to England with the 1977 Australian team. This tour was tough for Australia, as they lost the series to England. Also, the new World Series Cricket idea caused problems among the players. Hughes didn't play much at the start of 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. He told a reporter, "Those pricks, know they have made me part of their failure." In his first Test innings, Hughes took 34 balls to score his first and only run before being dismissed.

The World Series Cricket Years

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' childhood hero, Austin Robertson Jr., signed many players for WSC, but Hughes was not among them. Hughes said he was approached but didn't want to join. In September 1977, Hughes clearly stated he preferred traditional cricket.

In the first season of the split, the ACB brought 41-year-old Bob Simpson out of retirement to captain Australia against the touring Indians. Hughes almost scored a century against India for Western Australia. However, he was not chosen for the first Test. He played in the second Test in Perth, scoring 28 runs and then zero. He was left out of the third Test but returned for the fourth in Sydney. There, he scored 17 and 19 runs. Again, Hughes was left out of the Australian team. At this point, he had not played two Test matches in a row.

Hughes went to the Caribbean with the Australian team in 1978. During the first match, he got appendicitis and had his appendix removed. The wound got infected, but Hughes wanted to stay on the tour. Even after he recovered, he didn't play any Tests. The captain, Simpson, didn't approve of Hughes' personality. A reporter wrote that Hughes was "the most frustrated, disillusioned young man in the West Indies today."

Mike Brearley led his English team to Australia in 1978–79. With Simpson retired, Graham Yallop became the new Australian captain. This Australian team was very new, with only Gary Cosier having played more than 10 Tests. Hughes had only played three Tests. England's experienced team easily won the series five Tests to one. Hughes played in all six Tests, scoring 345 runs. His only century came in the first Test in Brisbane. Australia was struggling, but Hughes and Yallop put on a big partnership. Hughes scored 129 runs, his first Test century. Even though England won the match, Hughes's effort made Australia look better.

A Young Captain's Rise

Leading the Team

After the Ashes series loss, Australia hosted Pakistan for a two-Test series in 1979. Pakistan won the first Test. Before the second Test, Captain Yallop got injured and had to leave the team. 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 spoke of a "new era." During the second Test, Hughes hurt his ankle and couldn't play in the field. While he was off, the Australian team used a controversial tactic called "Mankading" to run out a Pakistan batsman. Later, an Australian player, Andrew Hilditch, was given out for "handling the ball" after he picked up the ball and gave it to a Pakistan bowler. These actions were allowed by the rules but were seen as unsportsmanlike. Hughes said his team's actions were "just part of cricket" but criticized Pakistan's actions as "just wasn't cricket." Australia won the second Test, tying the series. Hughes started his captaincy with a win.

Because of his success, Hughes was appointed captain for the 1979 Cricket World Cup in England. The Australian team was not expected to do well and didn't make the semi-finals. Next, Hughes and his team toured India for a Test series. Australia couldn't win a match, losing two and drawing four due to rain. However, Wisden praised Hughes, saying he improved his batting against spin bowling. They also noted that "the heavy burden of captaincy had no adverse effect on his batting." His best performance was in the first Test, where he scored exactly 100 runs. Hughes scored the most runs for Australia in the series, with 594 runs.

Team Reunification

In 1979, World Series Cricket and the Australian Cricket Board agreed to reunite the Australian team. Hughes and other traditional players now had to compete with the returning WSC players for spots. Many experts thought Hughes wouldn't make the full Australian squad. Former captain Ian Chappell agreed. However, Hughes was included in the squad but became vice-captain, with Greg Chappell (Ian's brother) returning as captain.

England and the West Indies toured Australia in 1979–80. Hughes started the summer well, scoring 139 not out in the first Test against the West Indies. He hit many boundaries, especially with the hook shot. In the next Test against England, Hughes was out one run short of his 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 first three days were lost to bad weather. But Hughes played what Wisden called "two innings of the highest quality." He scored 117 runs in the first innings, including 14 fours and 3 sixes. His second innings was 84 runs, but it was seen as his most brilliant. He hit 11 fours and 2 sixes, one of which landed on the top deck of the pavilion. Former England captain Gubby Allen couldn't remember a more remarkable straight hit. The Test was a draw, and Hughes was named Man of the Match. He batted on all five days of the match. Because of his performance, he was named one of the 1981 Wisden Cricketers of the Year.

Hughes struggled against New Zealand in 1980–81, scoring only 102 runs in three Tests. There were rumors that he might be dropped from the team. While Hughes was batting against India later that summer, Ian Chappell said on TV that Hughes "really does need to build up a big score here. People are starting to talk about him being dropped." As if in response, Hughes scored a double-century: 213 runs. Wisden called it a "magnificent innings" and said Hughes' batting "touched the heights." Hughes dedicated his innings to his newborn twin sons.

Captaincy Challenges

On-Again, Off-Again Skipper

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

In 1981, Australia was set to tour England for the Ashes. Before the team was chosen, Greg Chappell said he wouldn't lead the team. So, the Australian Cricket Board chose Hughes as captain. The Australian team arrived in England in May, but rain meant they didn't get enough practice. Still, Hughes and his team surprisingly won the One Day International series. Australia won the first Test match in Nottingham. Australia then had the better of a drawn match in the second Test. After failing in this match, Ian Botham resigned as England's captain.

The third Test was played at Headingley in Leeds. Hughes' Australians started well. 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 in their second innings. Bookmakers offered 500-to-1 odds on England winning. But Ian Botham and Bob Willis completely changed the game. Botham scored an amazing 149 runs, allowing England to set Australia a target of 130 runs to win. Willis then took eight wickets for only 43 runs, and Australia was all out for 111. Hughes and his team lost a match they should have easily won. Hughes later said, "Botham rode his luck and we couldn't get him out." Australia lost the fourth Test as well. This time, needing only 151 runs to win, Australia reached 105 runs for 4 wickets and seemed sure to win. Again, Botham turned the match around, taking 5 wickets for only one run. England won the series three Tests to one 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 first and won the series two Tests to one. Hughes started the series with a century (106) in the first Test and scored 193 runs overall. The other touring team that summer was the West Indies, considered the best team in the world with strong fast bowlers. The first Test was at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Both teams criticized the pitch. Australia quickly lost four wickets for only 26 runs before Hughes tried to save the innings. Hughes decided to attack the West Indies bowlers. He said later that "to hang around and defend was going to be a waste of time... So I thought what I could do was try to play as many shots as possible." When the ninth wicket fell, Hughes had 71 runs, and a century seemed impossible. But Hughes' last batting partner, Alderman, stayed with him long enough for Hughes to reach 100 runs. Hughes' innings was highly praised. West Indian Andy Roberts said, "It was a great innings. You don't find one batsman playing that sort of innings on more than one occasion." This innings was ranked number nine in the Wisden 100, a list of the Top 100 Test Innings of all time.

The End of the Chappell Era

In three Tests in New Zealand in March 1982, Hughes scored only 29 runs. Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Len Pascoe withdrew from the Australian team to tour Pakistan in 1982. The Australian Cricket Board chose Hughes as interim captain, narrowly winning a vote against Rod Marsh. Marsh was offered vice-captaincy but declined. It was a difficult tour for Hughes' team. Many players got sick, and Hughes even threatened to take his team home after fans threw things at Australian fielders. Pakistan won the series three Tests to nil.

Hughes hoped to remain captain for the Ashes series in 1982–83. However, the ACB chose to bring Chappell back as captain. This change didn't affect Hughes' batting. He scored 469 runs against England. Bill O'Reilly called Hughes "Mr. Reliable." The highlight for Hughes was the final Test in Sydney, where he batted for over 6 hours to score 137 runs. Australia won the Ashes series two Tests to one. Soon after, Chappell stepped down as Australian captain. Hughes was now captain of a full-strength Australian team for the first time.

Australia didn't get past the group stage in the 1983 Cricket World Cup, winning only two of six matches. Hughes' 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 to heal a minor injury. Without him, Australia was bowled out for 129 runs and left the tournament. Some in the Australian press criticized Hughes' decision. David Hookes publicly suggested Rod Marsh should be captain instead. Hughes replied, "It's nice to know the Australian captain has got the support of his vice-captain." Under pressure, Hughes almost resigned but changed his mind the next morning.

Again, the Australian Cricket Board voted to appoint Hughes as captain for the 1983–84 series against Pakistan. This time, Hughes led a full-strength Australian team, including Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee, and Rod Marsh. Hughes' Australians easily defeated Pakistan two Tests to nil. Hughes himself scored 375 runs in the series, including a century where he "confounded the cunning Qadir". At the end of the season, Chappell, Lillee, and Marsh—Australia's most experienced players—retired from international cricket.

The Downfall of a Captain

Challenges and Resignation

Australia was scheduled to tour the West Indies in 1984. The Australian Cricket Board gave players contracts that would bind them to only play ACB-approved cricket for 12 months after the tour, without extra pay. Hughes supported his team and helped draft a compromise agreement for financial security. The West Indies were considered the best team in the world. Hughes' new Australian team had to face them without the recently retired Marsh, Lillee, and Chappell. Former player Bob Simpson said, "The saddest and hardest lot for any captain is taking over the remnants of a once-great team." The Australian team also suffered from many injuries during the tour.

Australia lost the series three Tests to nil. They drew the first two Tests but lost the next three. Hughes did not bat well, scoring 215 runs. The pressure of the tour affected Hughes. In a match against Trinidad and Tobago, Hughes showed his frustration by not trying to win the rest of the game. He was fined for saying he didn't care about cricket in Trinidad and Tobago. In the second Test, Rodney Hogg threw a punch at Hughes, angry that he wasn't given the field he wanted.

Hughes then had a rare success as captain overseas, leading Australia to a 3–0 victory in a one-day series against India. However, there was no long break for the Australians. The West Indies returned to Australia for the 1984–85 season. The Australians tried to stay positive. But they lost the first Test badly. Hughes scored only four runs in the first innings, playing the hook shot despite promising not to. Again, the media pressure grew. Ian Chappell heavily criticized Hughes in his newspaper column. Chappell continued his criticism during a pre-match interview before the second Test in Brisbane. This Test was another struggle for Australia. Australia was bowled out for 175, and Hughes dropped two catches. In Australia's second innings, Hughes scored only four runs. The next morning, Hughes called the team manager and said, "I want to quit as Australian captain."

Stepping Down

With help from Greg Chappell, Hughes wrote his resignation letter. During the day's play, Hughes told his teammates about his decision. Allan Border, his vice-captain, advised him to reconsider, but Hughes refused. At the press conference at the end of the day, Hughes announced, "I have something to read." He read: "The Australian Cricket Captaincy is something that I've held very dear to me. However playing the game with total enjoyment has always been of the greatest importance. The constant speculation, criticism and inuendo by former players and sections of the media over the past 4–5 years have finally taken their toll. It is in the interests of the team, Australian Cricket and myself that I have informed the ACB of my decision to stand down as Australian Captain. I look forward to continuing my career in whichever capacity the selectors and the Board see fit with the same integrity and credability I have displayed as Australian captain."

Hughes was very emotional while reading his letter and started crying halfway through. He left the rest for team manager Bob Merriman to read as he quickly left the press conference. Australia went on to lose the match.

Reactions to Hughes' resignation and his emotional state were mixed. Former Australian captain Bill Lawry said it was a "disgrace." But respected ABC radio broadcaster Alan McGilvray was more direct: "[Hughes] is a little boy who has not yet grown up." Hughes was often mocked for his tears, which some saw as unmanly. 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 failed in both innings, scoring zero runs in the first and only two in the second. Hughes joined the Australian team for the fourth Test in Melbourne. Despite warm support from the crowd, Hughes scored zero runs in both innings (a "pair"). In his last innings, he was out on the 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. When the Australian team was chosen for the tour of England in 1985, Hughes was not included.

Rebel Tours and Retirement

While the Australian team for England was being selected, the South African Cricket Union (SACU) was organizing a "rebel" Australian team to tour South Africa. Because of the apartheid policy of the white government, South Africa was banned from international cricket and faced a boycott. With his old rivals Greg Chappell as a national selector and Rod Marsh in a similar role for Western Australia, Hughes felt his options in Australian cricket were limited. He chose to join the rebel team as captain. Hughes was one of the last players to join. He was heavily criticized for his decision.

The rebel team played two series against South Africa—in 1985–86 and 1986–87—and lost both. In the first series, Hughes was left stranded on 97 runs when a match ended in a draw. In the next match, Hughes was dismissed for a "king pair," meaning he was out on the first ball he faced in both innings. Hughes scored 585 runs in the 1985–86 South African season and 596 runs in 1986–87. In 2007, Hughes said about the rebel tours: "Cricket was at the forefront of trying to break down barriers and when you look how cricket has developed in South Africa I was very pleased to be involved."

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 against them and won. The WACA lost a lot of money in court costs. Before the 1987–88 season, Marsh resigned as a Western Australian selector. By December, Hughes was back in the Western Australian team as an opener, scoring 76 runs. He played six matches that year. The next season, Hughes played only two games for Western Australia.

In September 1989, Hughes signed on as captain of Natal in South Africa. His two seasons with Natal were disappointing for the team and for him. Natal struggled, and there were disagreements among the players. He scored 176 runs in 1989–90 and 266 in 1990–91. However, he had a positive impact on two cricketers who later played for South Africa. Andrew Hudson said Hughes "installed a positiveness and a self-belief" in him. Jonty Rhodes wanted to play with the same passion as Hughes. During his second season at Natal, Hughes was dropped from the Natal team and later from the Natal "B" team. He 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. In 1974, his final year, Hughes led a campaign to improve the college's facilities. This campaign, which included Hughes appearing on a TV show, was successful.

His first teaching job was in South Australia. Later, he worked in the finance industry, first as a promotions manager and then in marketing. His employer used Hughes to promote their business, and in return, Hughes was given time off for cricket.

Hughes was also a talented Australian rules footballer as a junior. He was invited to play with the Claremont Football Club. He played two seasons, but injuries and his focus on cricket meant he didn't make the senior team. His coach said Hughes had "Great ball skills, brilliant hand-eye coordination and a very, very reliable kick."

Hughes met Jenny Davidson when he was 14. They married in March 1977. Four weeks later, Hughes left for a four-month tour of England. In January 1981, Jenny gave birth to twin sons, Sean and Simon. 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 is also an occasional cricket commentator on ABC radio. He was Head of Cricket at Hale School in Perth. A dining room at the WACA Ground is named the Kim Hughes Room.

Playing Style and Personality

Hughes batted with a classic, upright style. He held the bat high and played his shots with good control. He was good at defending the ball. Early in his innings, he sometimes moved around his stumps, which made him vulnerable to being out leg before wicket.

People who knew Hughes generally found him likeable and friendly. He wanted to be liked. When he became captain of Australia, he said, "The one thing in my favour is that I will never change. I hope I will always be a likeable enough, easy-to-get-along-with type of person." As captain, Hughes was popular with the media and the public.

Hughes seemed confident on the field. One early opponent called him "A pretty cocky little fella." Some people liked this confidence, but others thought he was too 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 with his twin sons, waving mini-Australian flags.

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