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'Take up tennis': Brutal sledge that shaped Merv Hughes' career

Merv Hughes established himself as an Australian icon after taking 212 wickets during his 53-Test career.

But the enigmatic Aussie fast-bowler has recounted the one brutal sledge from England legend Ian Botham during the Ashes that shaped his career.

Merv Hughes for PlayersVoice

The Poms were favourites to retain the Ashes with an experienced team, while we were still rebuilding after the departure of several players on a rebel tour to South Africa.

Merv Hughes recounts one of the sledges that shaped his career. (Getty Images)
Merv Hughes recounts one of the sledges that shaped his career. (Getty Images)

By the time England had reached 4-198 in their first innings at the Gabba, I had trebled my total of Test wickets by claiming Mike Gatting and Allan Lamb and was feeling pretty good about myself. Then Ian Botham arrived at the crease.

The England all-rounder gave me a terrible mauling, hitting me everywhere. I had no answers. If I pitched it up he just hit through the ball, if I bowled short he would hook or pull it. My inexperience was being ruthlessly exposed. A couple of his sixes went a long, long way.

‘Merv, these are going so far they might get frequent flyer points,’ laughed Dean Jones as he went to fetch them.

It got ugly when Botham made 22 runs from a single over, scoring 2, 2, 4, 6, 4 and 4 off me. I am embarrassed to say it was a record for the most runs off an over in an Ashes Test. I would check the record books, desperately hoping some poor soul had been worse, and while I found there was once 24 scored off an over, it was from an eight-ball over.

At tea on the second day, after Botham was finally out for 138, I was sitting outside our changing room watching the rain come down and trying to understand what had just happened when Botham came out of England’s room.

‘You probably don’t remember me,’ I said to him. ‘But I was at a coaching clinic you did at Benalla when you played grade cricket here in the 1970s.’

‘Did I give you any good advice?’ he asked. ‘I told you I wanted to be a fast bowler, but you said I should take up tennis or golf because they were more enjoyable and better paid.’ He got up to leave, turned to me and said, ‘You should have listened to me.’

For the full extract visit PlayersVoice.