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Cricket CV: Right-arm medium fast bowler who made his first-class debut for his home county Middlesex in 1980, earning his cap a year later and remainnig at Lord's until joining Durham for their inaugural first-class season in 1992. Retired in 1993 (having taken 466 first-class wickets at 32.48) to pursue his journalistic career, writing a number of critically-acclaimed cricket books as well as being a columnist for The Independent and now The Daily Telegraph. Has now become an integral part of C4's coverage, carving out a niche for himself as 'The Analyst', although spending nine months of every year in a truck is tough on the family.
Career highlight: Bowling the last over of the 1986 B&H Cup final in pouring rain and holding his nerve sufficiently to restrict the final ball to a single when four runs were required. Conversely, his lowest ebb came in another final three years later (in the NatWest Trophy) when again entrusted with the last over. This time 10 were required but Warwickshire's Neil Smith smashed him out of the ground to claim an unlikely win and leave Hughes distraught at the memory.
Extraneous: Won the 1997 William Hill Sports Book of the Year for 'A Lot of Hard Yakka', and followed up with another bestseller in the shape of 'Yakking Around the World'. Had previously written 'From Minor to Major', telling the story of Durham's initial season as a first-class county. Most recently he has added 'Jargonbusting: The Analyst's Guide to Test Cricket', published by C4.
Most likely to say: "I think going bald is beautiful and a sign of virility"
Least likely to say: "Just 10 to win off the last over? Of course I'll bowl it"
Not to be confused with: Rt Hon Simon Hughes, MP for Bermondsey (and Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate for London).
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