Over the years, we have seen several players make their appearance for two nations, the latest example being that of David Wiese, who initially represented South Africa and was recently seen donning the Namibia jersey in the ICC T20 WC 2021.
There have been around 15 players who have represented two nations in the longest format. While, when it comes to ODIs and T20Is, the numbers are 14 and 13 respectively.
We know players who have made significant contributions for both the nations and one such example was David Wiese, who almost single-handedly took Namibia to the Super 12s of the global T20 tournament.
However, our focus for the day is on the players who have managed to score tons for both the nations they have represented and a fifty in the case of T20Is.
Test cricket
Kepler Wessels (Australia/South Africa)
Well, yes we did say there have been around 15 players who have represented two nations in the longest format but to date, there has been just one player who has managed to score tons for two nations. The South African-born Kepler Wessels has been a great servant of the sport and he made justice to both the nations he has represented by piling on the runs.
Wessels, who represented Australia from the year 1982-1985 scored 1761 runs at an average of 43 which includes four centuries. While for the proteas, he managed 1027 runs at an average of 38 during his three-year span from 1991-1994.
# He is the only player to score two Test tons for two nations.
# Kepler Wessels is the only player to score 1000 plus Test runs for two nations.
Let us have a look at Kepler Wessels’ overall stats in Test cricket.
| Matches | Runs | Average | HS |
| 40 | 2788 | 41 | 179 |
ODIs
1) Kepler Wessels (Australia/ South Africa)
It is once again the South African-Australian cricketer who makes it to the list, however, this time the 64-year old is not alone as he has two others to his company. Wessels in the limited-overs format has managed to score one ton for the Aussies and two while donning the South African jersey.
# Kepler is the only player to score 1000 plus ODI runs for two nations.
# He is also the first player to achieve the feat of scoring tons for two nations.
Too tough to keep him away right? It would have been very interesting to see how his career would have progressed if not for the six years-long gap between 1986 and 1991. Why the gap? It was the disillusionment with Australian Cricket that forced him to announce his retirement.
Kepler Wessels ODI stats
| Matches | Runs | Average | HS |
| 109 | 3367 | 34.35 | 107 |
2) Ed Joyce (England/ Ireland)
The former Irish cricketer started his international cricketing journey by representing the English side from the year 2006-2007. The 43-year old did not have a great career record while representing England as he just managed to score 471 runs at an average of 28.
Interestingly he did manage to score a century for England, however, his declining career forced his way out of the contention in the team and he was later seen representing his home nation- Ireland.
While donning the Irish jersey, the Left-hander has had much more impressive stats, scoring 2151 runs at an august average of 41.36, including five tons.
# Joyce by far holds the highest average of Irish players to have scored more than 2000 ODI runs.
# His individual ODI score of 160 * is the second-highest score by an Irish player in ODIs.
# Joyce faced the first delivery and scored the first run for Ireland in Test cricket.
| Matches | Runs | Average | HS |
| 78 | 2622 | 38 | 160* |
3) Eoin Morgan (Ireland/ England)
The current English skipper is the latest player to achieve the feat and given his incredible records and achievements for England, the fact that he began his career by playing for Ireland has been overshadowed with time.
What an achievement! @Eoin16 becomes England's highest ever ODI run scorer!
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2018
Scorecard & Videos: https://t.co/wZShUbZUWd#ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/KlAG6KzKCk
The current World Cup-winning skipper has represented Ireland in 23 matches, scoring 744 runs which included a ton.
While for the England side he has scored close to 7000 runs which include 12 centuries and 44 fifties.
# Morgan is the highest run-getter for England in ODIs (6957 runs).
# He also has the most fifty-plus scores for England in ODIs (55)
Eoin Morgan’s ODI stats
| Matches | Runs | Average | HS |
| 246 | 7701 | 40 | 148 |
T20Is
Mark Chapman (Hong Kong/ New Zealand)
The Hong-Kong-born batting all-rounder Mark Chapman recently after the innings against India entered the record books by becoming the first player to score the fifties for two nations in the shortest format. Interestingly, on both occasions, he managed to score 63 runs.
# Chapman is the first player from an associate nation to score a ton on an ODI debut.
# He is also the first player to be mankaded in a T20I.
Mark Chapman is the first player with 50+ scores for two countries in T20Is.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 17, 2021
Has only two scores above fifty, and both are the same score.
63* for Hong Kong v Oman, 2015
63 for New Zealand v India, 2021#INDvNZ
The 27-year old was bought in as a replacement for the Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson but did manage to impress one and all with his ability to play spin well and his innings of 63 against the Indians in the first T20I was well received. Do you think he can cement his place in New Zealand’s limited-overs line-up?
| Matches | Runs | Average | HS |
| 33 | 619 | 23 | 63* |
If given a chance to choose another nation's player to represent your nation, Which player would you love to don your nation’s jersey? Let us know in the comments and also follow our social media for the latest news and updates from the world of cricket.
