Cricket: Merv Hughes coming to play family game in Taranaki

One of the great characters of world cricket is heading to Taranaki in February to help his namesake family celebrate a century.

Merv Hughes, 42, the larger-than-life Australian fast bowler, has agreed to play in the 100th annual Hughes family cricket match on the hallowed turf at Kaponga.

The South Taranaki Hughes family have been playing the annual cricket match for the past 99 years against various opponents.

Several Taranaki sporting identities had agreed to play in the invitation side to play the Hughes 11, including Taranaki rugby coach Kieran Crowley.