| Merv Hughes was not exactly the typical fast bowler. | | | | Hughes' eighth Test-against West Indies at Perth- |
| He had the stature but was marginally overweight, | | | | was the best of his career. He took a hat trick, two |
| loved beers and had a strange, shuffling run-up. Big | | | | five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket per match haul in |
| Merv's signature moustache made him look less like a | | | | that match. Although the West Indies won by 169 |
| player of the "gentleman's game" and more like a pub | | | | runs, Merv took a career best 5/130 and 8/87 for a |
| specialist. Those qualities made Hughes quite a | | | | career-best match haul of 13/217. That proved to be |
| character in the game and a crowd favourite in | | | | a defining moment in his career-as he wore the |
| Australia. However, the big Aussie was more than | | | | "Baggy Green" regularly from that point onward, |
| that; he was a successful bowler for Australia | | | | playing 46 games in just under six years. |
| between 1985 and 1994. | | | | Hughes played 53 Tests for Australia, taking 212 |
| Born on November 23, 1961 in Victoria, Hughes | | | | wickets at an average of 28.38, with seven 5-wicket |
| waited only 20 years to make his debut for Victoria | | | | hauls and one 10-wicket per match haul. He was no |
| in the 1981/82 season. The big fast bowler's first | | | | slouch with the bat either, scoring two |
| opportunity for Australia was in 1985 against India at | | | | half-centuries-including a best of 72* against the |
| Adelaide Oval. Hughes took only one wicket in that | | | | West Indies- and accumulating 1032 runs at an |
| high-scoring drawn match. That was not a sign of | | | | average of 16.64. Big Merv played 33 One Day |
| things to come-although he played only nine Tests in | | | | Internationals, taking 38 wickets at 29.34. With an |
| three years at the start of his career. Big Merv only | | | | economy rate of 4.08, it was surprising that Merv did |
| became a regular in the Aussie side after his seventh | | | | not play more one-dayers for the Aussies. |
| Test. | | | | |