 He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against the Combined Services at New Road in May 1950; in the second innings he took 3-38, which was to remain his career best innings return.His victims were Wilfred Payton, Anthony Thackara and Michael Ainsworth, the last-named being a capped Worcestershire player himself.Hughes played no other first-class cricket in 1950, although he did appear several times for the county's Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship.