Former Australia skipper Kim Hughes says India is the best place to perfect the art of batting

Former Australia captain Kim Hughes is best remembered for breaking down while announcing at a press conference in November, 1984 at Brisbane that he would not be able to continue as captain after yet another defeat to the West Indies.


Talking cricket: Kim Hughes

His international career coincided with a tumultuous period in Australian cricket. When he made his Test debut, Australia's best players had defected to Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket. When the star players returned, Hughes was rarely a full-time captain. Only once (vs Pakistan in 1983-84) did he get to lead a full strength Australian side. After that, he was left with the task of rebuilding the team caused by the retirements of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh.

But, he could bat. His knocks in Madras in 1979-80, the Centenary Test in 1980 when his straight six landed in the top deck of the Lord's members' pavilion, and the unbeaten ton in the Boxing Day Test against West Indies in 1981-82 were some of his gems. Christian Ryan wrote in 'Golden Boy: Kim Hughes and the bad old days of Australian Cricket', "He rarely built big innings and he often sacrificed starts with rash shots.

But on those occasions it came off - like at Lord's in 1980 and at the MCG in 1981 - he was an artist, an entertainer and played cricket for the love of it." Hughes' batting average of 37.41 (in 70 Tests) didn't do justice to his talent.

These days, Hughes is working with AFL commentator and former West Coast Eagles coach Ken Judge to help sporting teams and organisations in Perth, in what he describes 'a building industry'. He is now renowned a public speaker and motivator here, and considers himself "easily accessible."

Hughes spoke to MiD DAY yesterday: