Hughes, 29, was presented the Steve Waugh Medal as the best male player at the 16^th annual Cricket NSW awards dinner at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency on Thursday night.

The elegant left-hander continued his good form of the previous season with another excellent one-day tournament, scoring heavily at the top of the order. 

His 379 runs at an average of 63.17 included two centuries and a top score of 122. It was virtually identical to his performance a year earlier.

Hughes also had another consistent season in the JLT Sheffield Shield, scoring 661 runs at an average of better than 41.

He had a number of strong starts but was unable to convert any into centuries despite getting close, including a top score of 98 not out when he ran out of partners. 

Before securing a NSW Blues contract at the age of 22, Hughes moved from Cowra to Sydney as a 19-year-old and started playing second grade with North Sydney while working as an apprentice greenkeeper.

This is the first time he has received the Steve Waugh Medal.

Ellyse Perry claimed her second Belinda Clark Medal in three years for the best female player in NSW.