By Abhishek Roy, IANS,
New Delhi : Merve Hughes was favourite of crowds at every venue during his playing days. It’s been 14 years since he called it a day, but “Big Merve” interacts with the spectators with the same fervour.
In India, as Cricket Australia (CA) selector, the 46-year-old former fast bolwer from Victorian still retains his sense of humour that made him a lively character during his playing days.
Sipping beer with compatriots, Hughes refused to say anything to the Indian media, but amused the spectators from down under as Michael Clarke frustrated the Indian bowlers.
Hughes says Clarke’s slog sweep reminds him of his days when he smacked New Zealand’s spinner Deepak Patel for five sixes in an over.
“I smacked Patel for five sixes in an over. Thereafter, I called him ‘Six-pack Deepak’,” recalled Hughes, sporting his trademark handle-bar moustache.
Hughes has been monitoring his team’s performance in the Kotla Test as selector and every now and then gets into the role of a cheerleader, jumping out of his seat every time a boundary was hit.