Hugh Lusk (cricketer)

Lusk made his first-class cricket debut for Auckland in 1889-90, playing five matches as a middle-order batsman and opening bowler. He had little success with the bat, but took eight wickets in two matches against the touring New South Wales team, including figures of 5 for 35 in the first match.[8]

He moved to Napier, and began playing for Hawke's Bay in 1891-92. In his first match he top-scored with 62 in an innings victory over Taranaki.[9] He was selected for North Island against New South Wales in 1893-94, second-top-scoring in each innings with 39 and 21. Now captaining Hawke's Bay, he played a leading part in the match against Wellington in 1895-96, making 14 and 41 and taking 4 for 18 and 7 for 53.[10]

He made his debut for New Zealand in 1896-97, making 59 and 23 in a victory over Queensland.[11] He was the only Hawke's Bay player to represent New Zealand during Hawke's Bay's period as a first-class side (1884 to 1921).[12] With 250 runs at an average of 31.25, he was the highest-scoring New Zealand batsman of the season.[13]

In the first match the next season Lusk scored his and Hawke's Bay's first century, 119 in a loss to Canterbury.[14] It was the highest score of the season, and again he topped the national run tally, this time with 280 runs at 40.00.[15] He went on New Zealand's short tour of Australia in 1898-99, but had little success in the two first-class games. In 1900-01 he scored his second century, 120, when he led Hawke's Bay to an innings victory over Auckland.[16] He played for New Zealand against Lord Hawke's XI in 1902-03. He scored his third and final century against Wellington in 1907-08.[17]

Lusk played his last first-class match, still as captain of Hawke's Bay, in 1909, just before his 43rd birthday. In 28 first-class matches for Hawke's Bay he scored 1395 runs at 28.46.[18] He served as President of the New Zealand Cricket Council in the 1930s.[19]