Played for Greg Chappell's Australian team at Asgiriya in 1983:

Kepler Wessels - Test centuries for two countries

by A.C. de Silva

Text-cricket for two countries ..... Kepler Christoffel Wessels, head the somewhat mixed reception of having the opportunity of playing test cricket for both South Africa and Australia.

South Africa's sporting isolation, induced him to for sale his homeland in 1978 and migrate to Australia whom he represented in 24 Tests and 54 one-day internationals, thus becoming the first South African player to represent Australia. He scored 162 and 46 on his test debut for Australia against England (Brisbane) 1982-83 the highest aggregate of runs an Australian has ever made in his first Test.

Fan of Sri Lanka

That was not all - he was a great fan of Sri Lanka too.

Second tour of Sri Lanka. Made first tour in 1983 as a member of Greg Chappell's Australian side and in the inaugural Test between the two countries played at Asgiriya scored 143. Also made 39 (Sara Stadium) and 43 (SSC) in one-day internationals. Scored 40 as captain of South Africa vs Sri Lanka (World Cup, Wellington), 1991-2. Also has best bowling figures in one-day internationals of 2/16 v. Sri Lanka (Adelaide), 1984-5.

Before coming over to Sri Lanka, he forsake South Africa.

South Africa's sporting isolation induced him to forsake his homeland in 1978 and migrate to Australia whom he represented in 24 Tests and 54 one-day internationals, thus becoming the first South African player to represent Australia. Scored 162 and 46 on his Test debut for Australia vs England (Brisbane), 1982-3- the highest aggregate of runs an Australian has ever made in his first Test.

In a career spanning four years, scored 1761 runs (avg. 42.95) with 4 centuries, including a highest score of 179 v. Pakistan (Adelaide), 1983-4 in Tests and 1740 runs (avg. 36.25) with one century and 14 fifties, highest score 107 v, India (Delhi), 1984-5 and 18 wickets (avg. 36.38) with 2/16 vs Sri Lanka (Adelaide), 1984-5 as best in one-day internationals for Australia.

Made first-class debut for Orange Free State v. Northern Tranvaal 1973-4 at the age of 16 years, 4 months and played for the state for three seasons while at school. Also played for Northern Transvaal, Western Province, Eastern Province, English country Sussex (1976-80) and Australian state Queensland (1979-80 to 1985-6). Led Eastern Province to treble of Currie Cup. Nissan Shield limited overs and Benson & Hedges night limited over series titles in 1989-90 and to double of Currie Cup and Benson and Hedges night limited-over series titles in 1991-2.

Wessels back as captain

When South Africa were welcomed back into the Test arena Wessels was the natural choice to be the first post-apartheid captain in the Test against West Indies in 1992. His maiden Test century for South Africa came in their second Test, the first in the series against India. He scored 118 in a drawn match.

Having returned to South Africa after career with Australia in 1985-6 became automatic choice of captaincy when South Africa returned to international cricket in 1991. Took over captaincy from Clive Rice for the 1991-2 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

By scoring 118 v. India (Durban) 1992-3 became the first player to score Test centuries for two different countries.

Tours (with South Africa only): India 1991-2, Australia and New Zealand (World Cup), 1991-2 (Captain), West Indies 1992-3 (captain).

Test Career Record: Debut v. West Indies (Barbados), 1991-2 scoring 59 and 74. Batting - Tests 5, Innings 10, Not Outs 1, Highest Score 118v. India (Durban), 1992-3, Runs 428, Average 47.55, Hundred 1, Fifties 3, No bowling. Fielding - 6 catches.

One-day International Career Record: Debut v. India (Calcutta), 1991-2 scoring 50, Batting - Matches 28, Innings 28, Not Outs 2, Highest Score 90 v. India (Delhi) 1991-2, Runs 1086, Average 41.76, Hundred 0, Fifties 9. No bowling, Fielding - 17 catches.

First-class Career Record: Debut 1973-4. Has scored 19,854 runs (avg. 50.97) with 54 centuries highest score 254 for Sussex v. Middlesex (Hove), 1980 and captured 12 wickets (avg. 45.41) with 2/25 for Queensland v. New South Wales (Sydney), 1985-6 as best, 5 winns 0, 10wM 0. Catches 194.