Maybe it’s because of the famous handlebar moustache, but former Australian fast bowler Merv Hughes remains quite a recognisable face here in India. Here with a group of 37 Australian supporters to catch the Mumbai Test, ‘Big Merv’ lauded the current Australian team on playing some ‘‘very good cricket’’ and said it was a ‘‘real honour’’ that he still had fans who hounded him for autographs in India.Speaking to The Indian Express on the sidelines of the wet day here, Hughes said he had been following the ongoing series ‘‘very closely’’ and Australia’s victory was a ‘‘fantastic achievement’’. ‘‘Australia have been playing some very good cricket in the series. Of course, India missed a chance in Chennai, and who knows what might have happened. As it is today, the Aussies are 2-0 up and have won the series. All credit to them.’’Hughes, however, did mark the point that the series of injuries to the Indian cricketers hadn’t helped the hosts, and that might have helped Australia. ‘‘You had (Sachin) Tendulkar missing the first two matches, then (Sourav) Ganguly was out. And to top it all Harbhajan (Singh) and young (Irfan) Pathan too were out with injuries. So its been tough going for India. They never had a full side in the series,’’ Hughes said.Saying that the difference between the two sides in the series has been the ‘‘presence of quality bowlers like Shane Warne and that the Aussie batsmen have been in top form’’, Hughes did point out some plusses for India. ‘‘I know it’s disappointing for the locals and the media has been very harsh on the team, but I feel India has been fairly worthy, especially in the second Test. (Virender) Sehwag has been playing well and sadly, we haven’t yet seen Rahul Dravid in full flow,’’ Hughes said. A dead bat for White
