Margaret Hughes

Margaret Patricia Hughes (1 October 1919 – 30 January 2005) was a sportswriter. Her first book, All On A Summer's Day (1953), was described by Neville Cardus in his foreword to the book as "the first book on first-class cricket not written by a man".

Quotes

 * A great cricketer must be an artist and express himself in his strokes.
 * All On A Summer's Day (1953).


 * 'This is the stupidest place I have ever visited,' she said. 'I shall never come here again.' The tall man looked at her in silence and nodded. 'Yes, you will,' he said. 'You won't be able to stay away now that you have come.'
 * All On A Summer's Day (1953).


 * Now the Englishmen suddenly came to life. Four runs later Harvey received a beast of a ball from Tyson which spat up at him and splashed off his bat to Cowdrey, 104 for 4.
 * The Long Hop (1955).


 * As we at all times criticise the Premier for his management of home affairs, call Mr Butler a fool for his Budget, find fault with Beecham's conducting, or Gielgud's performance, can we not, sometimes, say that our cricketers are not quite so brilliant as usual?
 * The Long Hop (1955).


 * I have been treated as a freak, rather like the fat lady at the circus.
 * On the reaction of male journalists to a female reporting cricket. Guardian obituary

Quotes about Margaret Hughes

 * Very few reporters in Fleet Street can write on the game with as much observation, sense of scene and character, and knowledge of the things that technically and tactically matter.
 * Neville Cardus, Foreword to All On A Summer's Day.


 * The work of an enthusiast who has watched and enjoyed cricket with an eye for detail and for character, for adventure and the human reflection beyond the ropes. It will, I fancy, be read with the same pleasure as it was written.
 * John Arlott, review of All On A Summer's Day; quoted in Times obituary


 * The Australia of her book is not merely a setting for cricket but a place of interest, of fun and of new impressions
 * John Arlott, review of The Long Hop; quoted in Times obituary