Hughes attended Durham Johnston Comprehensive School and St Edmund's College, Cambridge.
He also played a single match for a British Universities team against the touring New Zealanders in 1999.
From 2000 to 2002, he represented the Board in 4 List A matches, the last of which came against Herefordshire in the 2nd round of the 2003 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy which was held in 2002.
[5] He also played his final List A match for Cumberland, which came against Scotland in the 1st round of the 2004 Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy which was held in 2003.
His father, Tim, played List A and Minor counties cricket for Durham.