Roger Hughes - play the game like you mean it
Glenorchy Cricket Club | February 17, 2023
Roger Hughes made his first grade debut at Glenorchy Cricket Club during the 1989/90 to be become Glenorchy first grade player number 232.
Roger came to the club with a significant reputation having played a number of years for Burnie Cricket Club in the North West Tasmania Cricket Association competition as well as representing Tasmania in the Under National Championships in 1982/83.
A highly skilled all-rounder Roger was named in the in the Tasmania Premier Cricket team of the decade from 1986/87 to 1995/96 when he had played 116 games for Glenorchy and Lindisfarne and scored 3,060 runs at 30.30 and taken 244 wickets at 18.56.
Let’s find out more about Roger’s journey in the game
What year you were born?
1963
Can you remember you first game of cricket?
I was 1 years old playing for Combine Cricket Club in Smithton. I remember my brother in the other team bowling wide and full to help me out.
Tell us briefly about your cricketing journey?
Combine Cricket Club in Smithton was my first club. I was there from Grade 5 until I finished Year 10 and honed my game on the Tartan (Green rubber) wicket at the Smithton Recreation Ground.
Burnie Cricket Club - I played with from 16 to 25. I then moved to Hobart and played for Glenorchy for 7 seasons with a brief interlude at Lindisfarne, and then back to Glenorchy. I had a season in Belfast in the NCU and played for Cregagh Cricket Club. Back to Glenorchy for 3 seasons and finished at Lindisfarne.
In which grade and at what age did you make your debut in grade cricket?
I played 2nd grade at Combine while I was in Grade 5 at school, so 11.
At what age did you make your first grade debut in grade cricket and can you remember how you performed in debut?
My first grade debut was against Yeoman as a lad of 16 years. I didn't take a wicket off my 5 shaky overs and made 35 runs. I remember diving for the crease and having a head clash with Yeoman keeper Noel Bourn and batting with a butterfly bandage over the bridge of my nose.
If you can share with our audience, how would you describe yourself as a cricketer?
I would like to think I was a genuine all-rounder.
What were your strengths as a player?
My strengths would be my aggression in what I did and a fairly healthy competitive streak. Didn't like to lose much!
What was your highest score in senior cricket?
220 not out for Glenorchy against Kingborough at Eady Street in 1989.
What were your best bowling figures in senior cricket?
7 for 44 for Glenorchy against North Hobart at Eady Street in 1993
Who were the best three fast bowlers you have played against?
Dave Gilbert - Horrible to face. Fast and skiddy. Never felt safe and much preferred him to bowl full.
Craig McDermott - Faced him in Perth in Under 19National Championships. Their wicket keeper was a long way back which made you feel very lonely.
Bruce Reid - In Canberra Under 19 National Championships. Just really awkward to face. At that time I’d never seen anyone that tall and remember starting to duck under his first yorker. Bowled a great length and slid across - mostly!
David Gilbert
Who were the best three spinners you have played against?
Bishen Bedi - Played for Latrobe in the North West Tasmania Cricket Association and it was a great experience. I smashed him to all parts of the Latrobe Oval until he eventually had me out stumped for 4. Very cagey.
Don Pearce - He played for Tasmania against a touring team I think. He would have been 45 when I played against him and still have nightmares. He bowled in drifting leg spin but I couldn't lay a bat on him.
Gavin Robertson bowled really good bouncy off spin.
Who were the best 3 batsman you’ve played against?
David Boon - Just a really good bat. Hard and always looked in control.
Michael Di Venuto - Had deep confidence even from a young age and had all the shots. I'm sure his bat was too wide!!
Tom Moody - Played Under 19s in Perth. Great ball striker, everything hit the middle. Never played against someone like him at that stage. Didn't matter the length he just drove it everywhere.
David Boon
Who played the best innings you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Warren Hegg scored 140 in the NWTCA Grand Final in 1989. Ultimately they lost by 20 odd runs but he controlled the innings and therefore the match. There didn't seem to be an area we could contain him. Not surprisingly he played for England.
Was there any bowler in particular who whatever reason always you to cause you a few problems?
Tony Judd and Michael Fisher for the same reason. Both left arm off spinners who bowled over the wicket about a foot outside leg stump. No one day rules then, never came to grips with it!
Can you recall a time when you thought, wow, this is a step or two up from what you were used to in grade cricket and you really had to knuckle down to survive?
Against Kingborough in the mid-1990s I had to survive 20 overs to stumps with Gerard Denton bowling rapid downwind and Chris Matthews bowling left arm inswingers going about 3 feet. It made me think twice about surviving so I could face them again next week.
Who was the best wicket keeper you’ve seen firsthand playing with or against?
Probably Warren Hegg. Really good hands up to the stumps and didn't drop many when back. Like most keepers he didn't mind giving a running commentary on how well you were going!
Warren Hegg
Who are the two players you admired most in terms of skills and competitive spirit in the competitions you played?
Ricky Ponting was easy to admire as he was super skillful, very competitive but also worked hard to get better. Although it only happened rarely due to his stature in the game I loved how he made himself available for Mowbray when he could.
Only had one season with Jamie Cox but he epitomised getting the most out of your skill set, was very professional and opening bat…tough.
Ricky Ponting batting for Mowbray CC
Which umpire in Tasmania Premier Cricket did you admire most in how they managed a game?
I enjoyed Lance Cox in the NWTCA. Pretty sure he thought people came to watch him umpire but what he said was final. I guess that’s a good thing.
Who was the best captain you had the good fortune to play with?
Really enjoyed Chris Broadby as captain at Glenorchy. A great thinker on the game and a very stable influence on the team. He had the best mix of humour and grumpiness I played under. Peter Mancell was another who knew the game well and is just a really stand up person .
Who has been your funniest team mate?
Glenn Hughes - pretty sure he has no idea how or why but he just is. Poor Glenn nearly drowned at a State Training session in the pool at Dockside. He was the last in the pool and the sight of grown men skimming kick boards across the pool with Glenn needing to come up for air was about the funniest thing I've ever seen. Probably now called "bullying"!
Can you recall some banter or an exchange on the cricket field that still makes you laugh today?
A young Glenorchy bowler Mathew Boxall was asked by a State batsmen who he was. Mathew had him caught behind a few balls later and promptly stated “Mathew Boxall read it in the paper "
Who was your childhood hero?
Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell
Who are the three sports people in the world you’d most like to meet?
Ben Hogan, Tiger Woods and Garfield Sobers
Who’s your favourite cricket commentator?
Loved Richie Benaud
What was your favourite ground to play at?
Devonport Oval - Great wicket for everyone and good outfield. Just feels like a cricket ground
What’s been your most memorable moment in cricket?
Opening the bowling against WA in the Under 19National Championships in Canberra. I remember thinking it was pretty cool to be representing your state against another state and if the guy I was bowling to could be a future star. Turns out that Michael Veletta did pretty well .
Michael Veletta
What’s the best win you’ve been involved with?
NWTCA Grand Final Burnie V Devonport in 1987. We hadn't beaten Devonport for about 5 years and they were going for their 3rd consecutive premiership and it would be fair to say they had the game in the bag.
They’d scored 309 in the first innings and we were 4 for 68 about 30 minutes into Day 2. I was batting at the time and it would be fair to say they were confident! But the say “cricket is a funny game " and on this day it was. We won, we grew in confidence as a team and it started a good run for our club.
Who are the three players from your playing days at the top of the list for a Saturday afternoon barbeque?
I have 4. Martin Kelly, Peter Mancell, Andrew Gleeson and Stuart Cobern
You recently started got back involved in cricket, tell us about this?
For the past 3 years I have been Director of Female Cricket and coached the First Grade team. The experience on the whole was great and watch out as the girls are improving fast.
What are your hobbies?
Mountain biking and Mountain climbing (Small Mountains, no ropes)
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
Enjoy the game as it's just a sport but play the game like you mean it.
What’s your occupation?
PGA Golf Professional - Head Professional at Claremont Golf Club and also Teaching Professionally at Llanherne Golf Club.
If you were running a state cricket association what would your 2 priorities to ensure cricket in the state remained strong and successful on and off the field?
I would ensure young players from their own state are given opportunities probably even at the expense of imports. This is especially important for the Women’s game at the moment in Tasmania.
A State-wide roster - level the playing field for all Tasmanians.
