Wisden overview
Merv Hughes is a big man who became larger than life. The cricket world came to know him by his ample girth, massive moustache and exuberant demeanour; doubtlessly he was the first bowler to celebrate a wicket by sticking his tongue in the catcher's ear. It suited Hughes for all the attention to fall on extraneous aspects while he toiled away tirelessly at taking 200 wickets for Australia with full-pitched awayswingers. Australia could always be certain he was as stout of heart as stomach, and besides, he profited then and does still from the Merv persona. Hughes took a hat-trick over two innings and three overs against West Indies at Perth in 1988-89, but his most heroic effort was to rally a Craig McDermott-less attack of near rookies to great feats in England in 1993. It also finished him. In addition, Hughes played some astonishingly belligerent innings for Australia. Seven years since his last Test, he is still one of the most instantly recognisable people in Australia. Greg Baum

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