Fitness the key for Lara’s big hitter

GUN Lara batsman Andy Hughes says fitness and a real hunger for runs propelled him to his greatest ever season.

Hughes, who cleaned up GCA1’s top gongs by winning the prestigious Jack Sing Medal and the Intersport De Grandi MVP Award, has revealed the secrets of his success.

“I just wanted to score big runs,” Hughes said.

“I’m not saying that I didn’t have a hunger for runs in previous years, but with a young age demographic, scores of 40 or 50 weren’t going to be good enough. I wanted to go on with it and make some bigger scores. Obviously a couple of times this season I was able to do that.

“Fitness was a big factor as well. I’m a lot fitter now than I have been in previous years I wasn’t getting tired when I was on 60 or 70.”

Hughes had a breakout season, crunching 779 runs at 77.90 in 12 matches for the Cats.

He failed to reach double figures just once, belting two big centuries as well as 94 against premier East Belmont and 81 against Leopold.

Hughes revealed it was the work behind closed doors that enabled him to take the next step.

“It wasn’t the fitness I did at training, it was the fitness I was doing away from cricket,” he said.

“And it wasn’t a cricket decision that I wanted to get fitter, it was more a life choice.”

It paid dividends, with the gifted strokemaker able to overcome a traditionally shaky period post-Christmas and pile up the runs.

“I just had the complete season,” Hughes said.

“I’d scored about the same number of runs prior to Christmas for the last three years, but I always seemed to have a bad run of it after the break. But this year – whether luck was on my side or it was simply form – I also scored runs after Christmas.”

After registering 371 runs prior to Christmas last season, Hughes made just 73 after the break.

It was a similar pattern in 2015-16 and 2014-15, with the right hander enjoying a fruitful pre-Christmas period, only to contribute few runs when it mattered most.

But Hughes bucked that trend in a big way in 2017-18, making 398 of his 779 in the last five matches at a Don Bradman-like average of 99.5.

“That’s the most I’ve made by a long shot,” Hughes said.

“I had one season where we played finals and I made over 500, but other than that one I haven’t got close to what I made this year.”

Hughes’ prowess projected the Cats in the finals – losing to North Geelong by five wickets – and has given the young side confidence it can take another step forward.

“Everyone would set their expectations higher,” Hughes said. “The next step is obviously winning a final, and with the current set-up, you’d make a grand final.”

By winning the Intersport De Grandi MVP Award, Hughes pocketed $1000.