Phillip Hughes (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Phillip Hughes
female =


country = Australia
fullname = Phillip Joel Hughes
nickname = Boofa
living = true
dayofbirth = 30
monthofbirth = 11
yearofbirth = 1988
placeofbirth = Macksville, New South Wales
countryofbirth = Australia
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm = 1.70
batting = Left-hand bat
bowling =
role = Opening Batsman
club1 = New South Wales
year1 = 2007 -
clubnumber1 = 64
deliveries =
columns = 2
column1 = FC
matches1 = 7
runs1 = 559
bat avg1 = 62.11
100s/50s1 = 1/6
top score1 = 116
deliveries1 = -
wickets1 = -
bowl avg1 = -
fivefor1 = -
tenfor1 = -
best bowling1 = -
catches/stumpings1 = 7/-
column2 = List A
matches2 = 3
runs2 = 115
bat avg2 = 38.33
100s/50s2 = 0/1
top score2 = 68
deliveries2 = -
wickets2 = -
bowl avg2 = -
fivefor2 = -
tenfor2 = -
best bowling2 = -
catches/stumpings2 = 2/-
date = 19 March
year = 2008
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/player/272364.html cricinfo.com

Phillip Joel Hughes (born November 30, 1988 in Macksville, New South Wales) is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for the New South Wales Blues. A left-handed opening batsman, he has represented New South Wales at all levels, Australia at Under 19 level and is widely considered to be one of the most promising prospects for Australia's future. [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22800278-23212,00.html Boofa goes from bushie to Blue] Fox Sports News (2007-11-22). Retrieved December 4 2007] [ [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23391326-5001023,00.html Border measures NSW star Hughes for his baggy green] The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 25 2008] [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23390992-23212,00.html Katich predicts big career for Hughes] Fox Sports News. Retrieved March 25 2008] [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23376119-5006069,00.html Victoria warned to beware the Macksville Express] The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 25 2008]

Early life and junior career

Hughes was born in Macksville, a small town on the north coast of New South Wales, to parents Greg and Vivian. [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23376119-5006069,00.html Victoria warned to beware the Macksville Express] The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 25 2008] The son of a banana farmer, Hughes was also a talented rugby league player who once played alongside Australian rugby league international Greg Inglis. He played his junior cricket for Macksville Cricket Club, where he excelled so quickly that he was playing A-Grade at the age of 12. [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23376119-5006069,00.html Victoria warned to beware the Macksville Express] The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved March 25 2008] At the age of 17, Hughes moved from Macksville to Sydney to play for Western Suburbs District Cricket Club in Sydney Grade Cricket. [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23390992-23212,00.html Katich predicts big career for Hughes] Fox Sports News. Retrieved March 25 2008] He scored 141* on his grade debut and enjoyed a solid 2006-07 season scoring 752 runs at an average of 35.81 with a highest score of 142*. [ [http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/nswgc/hcthome.cl?PT=pp&C=WTS&TI=20&G=First&D=div&MN=10&R=1&DP=22-09-07&RD=22-09-07&seq=10&pn=153 Western Suburbs District Cricket Club - Phillip Hughes] Cricket New South Wales. Retrieved March 25 2008]

A representative for Australia at Under-19s level, Hughes had an excellent series against Pakistan Under-19s at Queensland in April 2007, scoring 387 runs at 96.75 in 5 innings. [ [http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Players/113/113415/113415.html Phillip Hughes Profile] Cricket Archive. Retrieved November 29, 2007.] In December 2007 he was named vice-captain for the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/326820.html Michael Hill to lead Australia's Under-19 squad] Cricinfo. Retrieved April 2 2008] Hughes had a relatively quiet World Cup campaign, scoring 89 runs at 22.25 in his 4 matches with a top score of 46 coming against Nepal. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/u19wc2008/engine/match/316981.html ICC Under-19 World Cup - Group C Australia v Nepal] Cricinfo. Retrieved April 2 2008] [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/u19wc2008/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=3138;type=tournament ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2007/08 - Most Runs] Cricinfo. Retrieved April 2 2008] The tournament wasn't a successful one for Australia as they crashed out in the semi-finals to Pakistan.

In July 2007, he was named in the Cricket Australia Emerging players team to take on talented young players from South Africa, New Zealand and India. Hughes performed well over the 7 One Day matches, scoring 238 runs at an average of 47.60. [ [http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Events/AUS/Cricket_Australia_Emerging_Players_Tournament_2007/Australia_Centre_of_Excellence_Batting.html Batting and Fielding for Australia Centre of Excellence Cricket Australia Emerging Players Tournament 2007] Cricket Archive. Retrieved December 4, 2007] Selectors were impressed with Hughes' form and as a result, he was awarded with a place in the Australian Institute of Sport's team to tour India for the Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament in August 2007. Once again, Hughes performed strongly, scoring 282 runs in 7 innings at an average of 56.40, including 1 century and 1 fifty. [ [http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Events/IND/Buchi_Babu_Invitation_Tournament_2007-08/Australian_Institute_of_Sport_Batting.html Batting and Fielding for Australian Institute of Sport Buchi Babu Invitation Tournament 2007/08] Cricket Archive. Retrieved December 4, 2007]

On October 27, 2007, still yet to play a first-class game, Hughes was named in the Cricket Australia Chairman's XI side to play Sri Lanka in a 3-day tour match at the Adelaide Oval. Against a bowling line-up containing Muttiah Muralitharan, Hughes scored a solid 49 runs, including 7 boundaries. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/310593.html Cricket Australia Chairman's XI v Sri Lankans] Cricinfo (2007-10-29). Retrieved November 6, 2007.]

First-class career

After scoring runs prolifically for New South Wales youth teams and Western Suburbs in Grade Cricket, Hughes was handed a rookie contract by New South Wales for the 2007-08 season. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/297171.html Blues Sign Katich for Five Years] Cricinfo (2007-06-07). Retrieved November 6, 2007.]

After scores of 51 and 137 for the New South Wales Second XI against Victoria's Second XI, [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/match/316830.html New South Wales 2nd XI vs Victoria 2nd XI at Hurstville Scorecard] Cricinfo (2007-11-15). Retrieved November 16, 2007] Hughes was awarded with a call up by Blues selectors to make his first-class debut. He played his first senior game against Tasmania on November 20 2007 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. At 18 years and 355 days, Hughes was the youngest New South Wales debutant since Michael Clarke in 1999. [ [http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22764317-23212,00.html Young gun makes Blues debut] Fox Sports News (2007-11-15). Retrieved November 16, 2007] In a comfortable victory for New South Wales, Hughes opened the batting and got his career off to an excellent start, scoring a fluent 51 and taking 2 catches. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/engine/match/298325.html New South Wales v Tasmania Scorecard] Cricinfo (2007-11-23). Retrieved November 23, 2007.]

Hughes had an outstanding debut season for New South Wales, playing 7 matches and scoring 559 runs at an average of 62.11 with 1 century and 6 fifties. [ [http://stats.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/engine/records/batting/most_runs_career.html?id=3226;type=tournament Pura Cup, 2007/08 - Most Runs] Cricinfo. Retrieved May 6 2008] The highlight of Hughes' excellent season came in New South Wales' Pura Cup final victory over Victoria. He scored 116 off 175 balls in the Blues' second innings to help put his team in a commanding position. At 19 years of age, this innings made him the youngest ever player to score a century in a Pura Cup final. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/342776.html Hughes and Katich put Blues on top] Cricinfo. Retrieved May 6 2008] Hughes was rewarded for his achievements by winning the New South Wales Rising Star Award and earning an upgrade to a full state contract for the 2008-09 season. [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/story/345108.html Katich earns more glory] Cricinfo. Retrieved April 6 2008] [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/347998.html Blues boost batting bank] Cricinfo (2008-30-04). Retrieved May 6 2008]

List A career

Less than a week after his debut in first-class cricket, on November 28 2007, Hughes made his List A debut against Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. While he wasn't originally scheduled to play the match, sickness to Australian opening batsman Phil Jaques handed him the spot. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausvsl/content/story/322496.html Pain-free Tait aims high] Cricinfo (2007-11-28). Retrieved November 29, 2007.] Just as he did in his first-class debut, Hughes passed 50 but was eventually dismissed for 68, top scoring for New South Wales in a "controlled" display. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ausvsl/content/story/322515.html Quiney belts Blues into submission] Cricinfo (2007-11-28). Retrieved November 29 2007] After New South Wales' wicket-keeper Brad Haddin was struck in the head by a top edge, Hughes took on the 'keeping duties for nine overs.

Awards

* New South Wales Rising Star Award: 2007 [ [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/story/345108.html Katich earns more glory] Cricinfo. Retrieved April 6 2008]

External links

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/272364.html Cricinfo Profile]
* [http://www.pcboard.com.pk/Archive/Players/113/113415/113415.html Cricket Archive Profile]
* [http://www.nswblues.com.au/the_team/player_profiles/?player_id=32 New South Wales Blues Profile]

References